From Library Journal
The semantic history of words dealing exclusively with women is the subject of this lively dictionary. Mills traces how, when, and why these words have changed over time and makes many fascinating observations. Words such as harlot, hussy, tart, and tramp all originated with either neutral or favorable connotations and evolved into derogatory female terms. Many words define women as edible such as cheesecake, dish, honey, and meat, or as destructive such as banshee, hag, siren, and vamp. Mills has done extensive, thorough research which is biased somewhat toward British English, but this does not detract from the significance of her findings. This belongs in every linguistics and feminist collection. It makes a nice complement to Tama Starr's The "Natural Inferiority" of Women ( LJ 10/1/91), a book of quotations about women.
- Eva Lautemann, DeKalb Coll. Lib., Clarkston, Ga.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Eva Lautemann, DeKalb Coll. Lib., Clarkston, Ga.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Language is always evolving and as dynamic as life itself; words gather and shed meanings through time and usage. Words are rarely absolute because the values and beliefs of the society that uses them change often. In reference to women, there are myriad words and terms whose meaning today are much different than they were originally. As Womanwords aptly conveys, the etymology of many expressions can be engaging and maddening. The birth and history of words exposes the evolution of culture and explains the transformation of words through usage. Jane Mills skillfully describes, word-by-word, how our vocabulary has been transformed into a language laden with sexist undertones and elitist innuendos. This resource is a central source for reexamining discriminatory language. -- From The WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review by SH
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
