Words: The Definition Of A Woman

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Language has been used in many different ways since the beginning of its construction. Just like stereotypes can follow fashion, they can follow words. An example of a stereotypical word for a female who is of refined behavior and speech is “lady”. According to the public, someone who is a “lady” is from an upperclass. The word “woman," however, is referred to simply as a generic word for a female human being, as well as a common term for a female who is independent.Though some people do not see the difference between the two words, there is a distinct difference between the terms. This contrast between the two words that have the same definition is known as a word’s connotation. Connotation is subtle and indirect; however, it can be easily …show more content…

The word “woman” originally came from the word “wife”. The word’s general definition is a term used to describe a human female; this is known as a word’s denotation. Because of its reputation, the word has been seen in the idiom, “Be one’s own woman”. This expression is meant to encourage people, especially females, to be confident and independent. Although formerly “woman” was at times regarded to as demeaning, while “lady” was the indication of courtesy, the word “woman” is the appellative preferred by most modern females. Just as a male would prefer to be called a man, females prefer to be called women, because it gains a sense of maturity and …show more content…

For instance, in the twentieth-century, it was more honorable to be referred to as a lady, rather than a woman.This is because the word woman was seen as a common word for ordinary females, while the word lady was used to describe someone of a higher social class. Similarly, in the modern day, depending on the culture of the area that you reside in, the term “woman” or “lady” could have a negative connotation. This is because in some cultures, to be a woman is also to be inferior to men. However, in some cultures, the term “lady” expresses a woman who is stuck up and snotty. Also, the word “woman” has been used to ridicule boys who are sluggish or feeble. If a boy was called a “woman,” he wouldn't necessarily be embarrassed that he was called the opposite sex, but rather, that he was compared to someone who is seen as weak and fragile. These two words are known for their imaginable stereotypes. As one would imagine a woman standing behind a podium, giving a candid speech to her fellow citizens, one would also imagine a lady sitting beside a table, drinking tea with her pinky finger lifted up. This is just one example of how both terms are referred to in the modern

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