During a lecture, your professor says, "A child learns language as he interacts with caregivers." This generic use of the pronoun he is more likely to trigger images of males than of females. This best illustrates the impact of

Question

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This is an example of how language can shape our thinking and perception of gender roles. Using "he" as a generic pronoun reinforces the stereotype that males are the default or typical gender, while females are the exception or less important. This phenomenon is known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

During a Lecture, Your Professor Says, "A Child Learns Language