Language and Gender – Feminist Linguistics

Within the framework of women’s human rights, this project addresses issues related to the standardization of the Serbian language in certain domains of use, particularly regarding gender and discrimination through language (linguicism, sexism). The project began in 1997 with a course of the same name and has continued through various initiatives—including public forums, seminars, and lectures—with the aim of changing existing practices regarding the use of (non-) gender-sensitive language. Codex of non-sexist use of language in media (S. Savic, 2004), is the first codex of this kind in Serbia.

Prof. Emerita Svenka Savić

Feminist Linguistics (FL) is an interdisciplinary scientific field encompassing both theoretical and empirical research in linguistics, directed toward explaining and uncovering the ways in which gender and sex are interconnected in language, society, and culture. Language reflects patriarchal power relations in society, most visibly through various forms of sexism in language within our culture.

Feminist Language Critique (FLC) in our context has a dual focus: (1) it engages in a critical examination of language use in both the public (institutional) and private (personal) spheres; (2) it contributes to the discussion on the regulation and standardization of gender-sensitive language in official usage. The development of FL is followed according to the theoretical framework advanced by researchers and theorists: (1) Deficit Theory, (2) Difference Theory, and (3) Constructivist Theory.

In the mid 1990s, Svenka Saviċ introduced FL in Serbia in her work (texts in “Women’s Studies”, “Feminist Paper”, “Women in Action”, etc.), in lectures (Center for Women’s Studies, Belgrade, “Women’s Studies and Research”, Novi Sad, “Center for Gender Studies”, Sarajevo, at ACISMI Center for Gender Studies, UNS). She opened up new topics, educated women researchers, and published work with her associates.

In these interdisciplinary studies Saviċ promotes a theoretical attitude for the standardization of gender sensitive language (GSL), supported by many empirical data from various conversational situations, in various contexts and among interlocutors who experience unequal distribution of power.

Across the broader geographical area of the former Serbo-Croatian language, feminist oriented  researchers are engaging in a shared effort and networking to advocate for the integration of gender sensitive language (GSL) into public and institutional spheres, as well as the inclusion of gender perspectives in interdisciplinary language research across diverse contexts. For instance, these are Jelena Filipović with her associates in Croatia, the works of Rada Borić and Zrinjka Glovacki-Bernardi in Belgrade, Nada Drobnjak in Montenegro, Jasmina Čaušević and Sandra Zlotrg in BiH, to name just few.

The theoretical framework applied to practice is visible in three basic publications on this site: A Guidebook for Gender Sensitive Language (2019), A Companion for Gender Sensitive Language (2019), Gender and Language (2008).

- Literature

Dr. Margareta Bašaragin

- Literature: Jezik zakona – karakteristike i rodna perspektiva
- Terminology: 100 reči o ravnopravnosti – Rečnik termina o ravnopravnosti žena i muškaraca
- Dr Margareta Bašaragin, Rodno osetljiv jezik u službenoj upotrebi: metod intersekcionalnosti
- Bašaragin, Margareta; Savić, Svenka, Funkcije diskursne strategije 'govorenje uglas' u TV duelu političara u Srbiji