Teaching Workshop: How to Avoid Sexism in the Italian Language
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
In 1987, on behalf of the National Commission for equality and equal opportunities between men and women, Alma Sabatini published the study Sexism in the Italian language. In it is highlighted the link between gender discrimination and semantic discrimination. Since then, the need for improvement projects has become even more urgent to prevent language from favoring the persistence of gender discrimination. Every institution, administration, foundation, company, both when addressing its staff and when addressing the outside world, must pose the problem of comunicate avoiding any kind of discrimination. In a language like Italian, in which gender distinctions are systematically marked, this is not easy. The workshop aims to develop awareness of this problem and to provide the student with a professional competence to manage institutional communications correctly.
The laboratory allows to acquire skills for the professional profiles of editor, text editor, press office and external communications Associate editor
The laboratory allows to acquire skills for the professional profiles of editor, text editor, press office and external communications Associate editor
Expected learning outcomes
The workshop aims to develop the following skills:
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Lesson period: First semester
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
The classes are held exclusively in presence. Students must refer to the provisions of the University:
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/frequentare-un-corso-di-laurea/segue-i
Students are invited to consult and follow the Rector's Decrees and the information reported on the page dedicated to urgent measures for the university community.
https://www.unimi.it/it/coronavirus-misure-urgenti-la-comunita-universi
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/frequentare-un-corso-di-laurea/segue-i
Students are invited to consult and follow the Rector's Decrees and the information reported on the page dedicated to urgent measures for the university community.
https://www.unimi.it/it/coronavirus-misure-urgenti-la-comunita-universi
Course syllabus
Module "Come evitare il sessismo nella lingua italiana"
The laboratory aims at developing metalinguistic skills concerning the Italian language. During the sessions we'll examine how gender is expressed in Italian, distinguishing between semantic and grammatical gender. We'll take into account the thesis according to which some linguistic usages are sexists and we'll analyse some arguments supporting this thesis.
The laboratory will provide students with tools to identify and substitute terms and constructions that have been considered problematic according to the aforementioned thesis. Participants will learn different strategies to rephrase problematic statements and they'll practice identifying and applying the best strategy depending on the context.
+Sessions schedule:
Friday 15/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 22/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 29/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 05/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 12/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 19/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 26/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Saturday 27/11 h. 8:30-12:30 - room 111, Festa del Perdono
Friday 03/12 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
To attend this Lab make the pre-registration as indicated in the Laboratories section of the Philosophy website:
https://filosofia.cdl.unimi.it/it/insegnamenti/laboratori
The laboratory aims at developing metalinguistic skills concerning the Italian language. During the sessions we'll examine how gender is expressed in Italian, distinguishing between semantic and grammatical gender. We'll take into account the thesis according to which some linguistic usages are sexists and we'll analyse some arguments supporting this thesis.
The laboratory will provide students with tools to identify and substitute terms and constructions that have been considered problematic according to the aforementioned thesis. Participants will learn different strategies to rephrase problematic statements and they'll practice identifying and applying the best strategy depending on the context.
+Sessions schedule:
Friday 15/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 22/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 29/10 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 05/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 12/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 19/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Friday 26/11 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
Saturday 27/11 h. 8:30-12:30 - room 111, Festa del Perdono
Friday 03/12 h.16:30-18:30 - room M301, Santa Sofia
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
To attend this Lab make the pre-registration as indicated in the Laboratories section of the Philosophy website:
https://filosofia.cdl.unimi.it/it/insegnamenti/laboratori
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge required
Teaching methods
Lectures, individual exercises, and work groups.
Teaching Resources
Formato Federica (2019) "Gender, Discourse and Ideology in Italian", Palgrave McMillan (chapter 2)
Eckert Penelope and Sally McConnell-Ginet (2013) "Language and Gender", Cambridge University Press
Hofstadter Douglas (1998) "A person paper on purity in language", in Deborah Cameron The Feminist Critique of Language, Routledge, pp. 141-8
Mills Sara (2008) "Language and Sexism", Cambridge University Press
Moulton Janice (1980) "The Myth of the Neutral "man"" in Vetterling-Braggin (ed.), 100-16
Pezzini Barbara (2015) "Implicito ed esplicito nel rapporto circolare tra genere e diritto" in Morra & Pasa Questioni di genere nel diritto: impliciti e crittotipi, Giappichelli, pp. 201-234
Sabatini Alma (1987) "Il sessismo nella lingua italiana", Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Saul Jennifer (2003) Feminism: Issues and Arguments, Oxford
University Press (esp. Chap. 6)
Saul Jennifer and Esa Díaz-León (2018) "Feminist Philosophy of Language", Stanford Encyclopedia Entry https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-language/
Eckert Penelope and Sally McConnell-Ginet (2013) "Language and Gender", Cambridge University Press
Hofstadter Douglas (1998) "A person paper on purity in language", in Deborah Cameron The Feminist Critique of Language, Routledge, pp. 141-8
Mills Sara (2008) "Language and Sexism", Cambridge University Press
Moulton Janice (1980) "The Myth of the Neutral "man"" in Vetterling-Braggin (ed.), 100-16
Pezzini Barbara (2015) "Implicito ed esplicito nel rapporto circolare tra genere e diritto" in Morra & Pasa Questioni di genere nel diritto: impliciti e crittotipi, Giappichelli, pp. 201-234
Sabatini Alma (1987) "Il sessismo nella lingua italiana", Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Saul Jennifer (2003) Feminism: Issues and Arguments, Oxford
University Press (esp. Chap. 6)
Saul Jennifer and Esa Díaz-León (2018) "Feminist Philosophy of Language", Stanford Encyclopedia Entry https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-language/
Assessment methods and Criteria
Participation in proposed group activities and writing a final report.
Evaluation Criteria:
- autonomy of judgment;
- ability to cooperate in a working group;
- ability to communicate, also with computer technology;
- ability to synthesize and write correctly;
- autonomy in the use and verification of sources, bibliographical and basic computer tools for research and scientific updating.
Evaluation Criteria:
- autonomy of judgment;
- ability to cooperate in a working group;
- ability to communicate, also with computer technology;
- ability to synthesize and write correctly;
- autonomy in the use and verification of sources, bibliographical and basic computer tools for research and scientific updating.
Laboratorio Professionalizzante
- University credits: 2
Humanities workshops: 20 hours
Professor:
Rosola Martina
Ricerca Bibliografica e redazione di un testo scientifico filosofico
- University credits: 1
Humanities workshops: 16 hours
Professor:
Ceron Annalisa Antonia
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 9.15-12.15. Please, write an e-mail to arrange an appointment.
Teams and/or office