Negotiated Meanings of Gender & Ethnicity

Language contains much more than the mere meaning of the words conveyed. The manner in which it is spoken, to whom, and in what situation, go far beyond that. Language can be used as a source of power, as a form of self-expression, as a cultural identity, to express a position, to control a situation. Much can be read into spoken language that is not contained in the words uttered. One word, spoken in a particular way, can change the entire mood of a situation. Not understanding the "language" of another person goes far beyond not understanding the words they are saying. Language can identify not only nationality, but power and status within societies, ethnic origins not evident in the sounds spoken, but inherent in the structure of the language used. Language is much more than "just words."

Benjamin, O. and Sullivan, O. (1999). Relational resources, gender consciousness and possibilities of change in marital relationships. Sociol. Rev., 47, pp. 794-820.

This paper investigates the possibilities of change in marital relationships, and argues that this involves examining the interplay of gender consciousness, relational resources, and material circumstances in their concrete, interactional manifestations. Its attempt to address this interface is grounded in the idea that understanding gender relations necessarily involves both institutional and interactional dimensions. The authors point out that most research h

. . .
r of transactors when friendship is considered. The script generates testable hypotheses which are studied in three lab-based experiments. The studies considered the effect of friendship on two-party transactions and revealed consistent behaviors. The three situations were: when pricing a variety of commodities for a transaction, when acting as agents for a friend or a stranger, and when observing others engaged in such transactions. This study investigates the intersection of social relationships and transactions, and examines how the most common social relationship, friendship, affects transaction cognitions. It showed systematic and predictable differences in people involved in transactions with either friends or strangers. The study examines the roles of the elements of the relationship, including trust, expectations for future interaction, or contractual or agenic interactions in transactions with strangers, where they are more applicable than in transactions between friends. Hirsch, S. F. (2000). Just words: law, language, and power. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. The title of this book belies its title: legal discourse is not "just words" but speech that has consequences for professionals and laypeople who
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
German- Japanese, Brit Sociol, Conflict Res, Chicago Press, Takahashi Peterson, Sociol Rev, Human Relations, Human Relations45, Soc Rev, Soc Issues, language power, african american, negotiated reciprocal, reciprocal exchange, gender race, african american family, american family, gender consciousness, possibilities change, change marital, possibilities change marital, 1999 language power, revisioning gender, revisioning gender pp, hazardous waste management,
Approximate Word count = 2828
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)