Language Reinforces Gender Inequality: Honorifics and Last Names

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" (1985) depicts women reduced to reproductive instruments, named after the men they served, such as "Offred" (Of Fred). This mirrors societal practices where women are labeled relative to men. In America, women inherit a man's last name, even if they keep their own, it originates from their father. Honorifics also categorize women by age and marital status: "Miss" (unmarried, under 30), "Ms." (unmarried, over 30), and "Mrs." (married), while men are consistently "Mr." This is not solely an American issue; languages like French, Spanish, and Italian also address women based on marital status. The United Nations Development Programme's 2020 Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) reveals widespread beliefs hindering gender equality. Language structures amplify these mindsets, perpetuating inequalities. Recognizing how language diminishes women is the first step toward a more equal society.