Gendered and genderless constructions of religious identity in a charismatic community of practice

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Dept of English and Applied Linguistics

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Gender and Language

Volume

13

Issue

3

First Page

339

Last Page

368

Publication Date

1-1-2019

Abstract

A plethora of studies that account for the differential use of language by men and women have explained why such differences exist from the standpoint of Deficit, Dominance and Difference models, emphasising male and female dichotomy or male domination over women. The present study aims at filling a gap in language and gender research by underpinning its analysis with a social constructionist paradigm which views language and its interaction with the community of practice (CofP) as the conduits in shaping identity and by locating the context of the study inside a religious CofP. Our analyses indicated that the members of a Charismatic religious community share common self-presentation strategies when constructing their identities, rejecting the dualism that distinguishes male and female language. Both males and females in our study have the same tendencies in using Supplication, Intimidation, Admitting Mistakes, Apology and Excuse in the narration of their Old life and Exemplification and Burnishing in the characterisation of their New life. However, the same respondents also exhibited differential use of tactics that also bolster previous findings on gender order. The interlocking relations of language, identity (religious or social) and gender are mutually constructed and negotiated constantly in a community of practice which is influenced by cultural and religious practices. © 2019, equinox publishing

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Digitial Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1558/genl.34739

Disciplines

Language and Literacy Education

Keywords

Language and sex; Language and languages—Sex differences; Sexism in language

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