TITLE:
“Words Speak Louder than Actions”: The Connection between Gendered Language and Bullying Behavior
AUTHORS:
Nicole L. Rosen, Nicole A. Shoenberger
KEYWORDS:
Gender, Language, Bullying, Sociolinguistics, Socialization
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.9 No.8,
August
11,
2021
ABSTRACT: Gender
inequalities have been examined at individual and institutional levels. One key
way that gender differences are reinforced is through language. To examine
gendered language differences, this study goes beyond what girls and boys say to examine how they describe their experiences, pertaining specifically to
bullying. The central research question of this study is, “How do girls and boys interpret and explain their experiences of
being bullied?” Using open-ended questions from a national survey, this
study applies a qualitative content analysis and OSL regression analysis to
determine how gender socialization has influenced how girls and boys
communicate their experiences. Findings
include girls’ tendency to offer in-depth responses, which reflect storytelling,
while boys minimized their victimization by giving off a tough front. This
study suggests that gendered patterns of language serve to reinforce gender
differences in how girls and boys reflect on their experiences with bullying.