Research Article

The Stigmatized Linguistic Discourse Used Against Women: Moroccan Films and Sitcoms as Study Cases

Authors

  • Amal El Mhaoudar Doctoral Student in literary, linguistic, and cultural studies at Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal. Morocco
  • Noureddine Bourima Professor in the English Department at Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal. Morocco

Abstract

The stigmatized language in Moroccan films demonstrates gender attitudes and social conventions when treating gender biases and inequalities. Moroccan cinema, in general, contributes to the reinforcement of traditional gender roles through the use of sexist language and stigmas in dialogues tied within narrative scenes. Sexism in Moroccan films and sitcoms is depicted in several ways, portraying women’s inferiority and submissiveness. Such gender inequalities represent women as primarily responsible for the domestic sphere and removed from public interests. The current research aims to investigate the representations of the stigmatized linguistic discourse used against women by undertaking a study about how the stigmas strengthen social and cultural stereotypes. The research studies the linguistic derogatory terms, gender stereotypes, reification or terms that treat women as sexual objects, and dismissive attitudes and the way they are depicted within cultural norms, along with their effect on cultural perspectives. The study utilizes a mixed approach of selected Moroccan films and sitcoms through the analysis of dialogues, as well as interactions among characters. It aims at discerning the representations of sexist language and the way gender inequalities are maintained. The research data is collected from a variety set of films that treat sexism from different understandings and interpretations and the way language portrays and depicts stigmatized discourses. The data analysis stands up at pointing out various ways in which gendered stereotypes or negative, derogatory terms are used against social groups, typically women. The present research comes up to reveal that these gendered depictions aim at strengthening social biases and cultural recognitions of gender stereotypes. The results unveil salient interrelations between gender representations and the reinforcement of gender biases. The research concludes that Moroccan films and sitcoms play a significant part in structuring prerequisite linguistic stigmas. Through drawing the salient ways in which sexist language is used in films, the research points out the significance of raising awareness through media interpretations of gender discourses. The findings display that the Moroccan cinema and the way its gender discourses are represented reinforce gender portrayals.

Article information

Journal

International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation

Volume (Issue)

7 (9)

Pages

115-120

Published

2024-08-29

How to Cite

Amal El Mhaoudar, & Noureddine Bourima. (2024). The Stigmatized Linguistic Discourse Used Against Women: Moroccan Films and Sitcoms as Study Cases. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, 7(9), 115–120. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijllt.2024.7.9.14

Downloads

Keywords:

Sexist language, discourse, stigmatization, gender representations, language, Moroccan cinema