Despite the inroads made by women in the professions, the glass ceiling remains a persistent barrier to their career progression. Using a range of interactional sociolinguistic data this publication investigates the crucial role that gendered discourses play in perpetuating workplace gender inequalities.
Despite the inroads that women have made into the professions in recent years, the glass ceiling is just as persistent as ever. Gendered Discourse in the Professional Workplace aims to investigate the crucial role that gendered discourses play in perpetuating workplace gender inequalities. A range of interactional sociolinguistic data is analysed from ethnographic case studies of businesses in which women and men managers perform a range of stereotypical gendered speech styles when enacting their professional identities. These interactions are examined as part of a broader interdisciplinary framework for analysis, which enables language, gender and power to be scrutinized at both micro and macro levels. Practical guidelines for conducting future projects are presented.
Despite the inroads that women have made into the professions in recent years, the glass ceiling is just as persistent as ever. Gendered Discourse in the Professional Workplace aims to investigate the crucial role that gendered discourses play in perpetuating workplace gender inequalities. A range of interactional sociolinguistic data is analysed from ethnographic case studies of businesses in which women and men managers perform a range of stereotypical gendered speech styles when enacting their professional identities. These interactions are examined as part of a broader interdisciplinary framework for analysis, which enables language, gender and power to be scrutinized at both micro and macro levels. Practical guidelines for conducting future projects are presented.
Shortlisted for the International Gender and Language (IGALA) Book Prize 2008
'...a very stimulating and timely book which provides valuable insights into the various ways in which gender is reflected, created, maintained, and challenged in workplace discourse...It will be of interest and relevance to scholars interested in workplace communication as well as language and gender.' - Stephanie Schnurr, Journal of Sociolinguistics
'Louise Mullany's publication, Gendered Discourse in the Professional Workplace is a most valuable contribution to the field of research. It gives insights into the linguistic culture of the workplace and presents the correlation between gender and managerial power/authority in speech strategies. It will hence certainly attract researches, primarily sociolinguists, preoccupied with the gender-dependent communicative styles and their impact on interpersonal communication and relations at work. The book is a testament to the author's extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of sociolinguistic gender studies and boasts a most commendable methodology of discourse analysis, which can serve as the paradigm to be followed by other researchers.' - Marta Dynel, Journal of Pragmatics
'This publication has all the characteristics that a study on the intricate relationship between language and gender should possess. It combines theory and methodology within a contemporary approach to research on language and gender. In addition, it offers practical suggestions for addressing acute social problems that we still face. Mullany makes clear that the linguistic perspective really matters for addressing contemporary social issues.' - Joanna Pauwelczyk, Gender and Language
'...a very stimulating and timely book which provides valuable insights into the various ways in which gender is reflected, created, maintained, and challenged in workplace discourse...It will be of interest and relevance to scholars interested in workplace communication as well as language and gender.' - Stephanie Schnurr, Journal of Sociolinguistics
'Louise Mullany's publication, Gendered Discourse in the Professional Workplace is a most valuable contribution to the field of research. It gives insights into the linguistic culture of the workplace and presents the correlation between gender and managerial power/authority in speech strategies. It will hence certainly attract researches, primarily sociolinguists, preoccupied with the gender-dependent communicative styles and their impact on interpersonal communication and relations at work. The book is a testament to the author's extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of sociolinguistic gender studies and boasts a most commendable methodology of discourse analysis, which can serve as the paradigm to be followed by other researchers.' - Marta Dynel, Journal of Pragmatics
'This publication has all the characteristics that a study on the intricate relationship between language and gender should possess. It combines theory and methodology within a contemporary approach to research on language and gender. In addition, it offers practical suggestions for addressing acute social problems that we still face. Mullany makes clear that the linguistic perspective really matters for addressing contemporary social issues.' - Joanna Pauwelczyk, Gender and Language