25/10/2025
The Power of Words: Exploring Language in Politics, Society, Law, and Gender
Language and Power Seminar โ First Session: Language and Gender
The Fourth Year Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) students conducted the first session of their seminar titled โThe Power of Words: Exploring Language in Politics, Society, Law, and Genderโ on the morning of October 24, 2025. The session centered on the topic โLanguage and Gender,โ with Assoc. Prof. Maribel C. Ibaรฑez, Director of Gender and Development, serving as the resource speaker.
The program commenced with opening messages from Dr. Mary Grace L. Gacusan, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, emphasized the relevance of the seminar, connecting it to the institutionโs recent Strategic Planning on the Development of ISPSC: Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda. She remarked that this initiative is significant because it allows the academic community to learn how to incorporate proper gender language in their academic and professional outputs. Following this, Mr. Christian Abella, the Program Head of BAEL, delivered his message that highlights the main focus of the seminar. He stressed the importance of being sensitive to the language we use and the necessity of maintaining gender sensitivity in every context.
Before the lecture proper, a video presentation on Gender Equality was also showcased, featuring BAEL students as the actors. The video was originally produced as a final major course output (MCO) in their subject Gender and Society during their second year. It was directed by Coleen Gomez and Loreah Makil, both now fourth-year students. The directors shared that they decided to present the video as it aligns closely with the seminarโs theme on Language and Gender. The presentation opened with two powerful statements that encapsulate its message: โNo gender should bend under a societyโs trendโ and โEqual Voices, Equal Choices.โ The short film served as a creative reminder of the continuous advocacy for equality, inclusivity, and respect across all genders.
After the video presentation, Assoc. Prof. Maribel C. Ibaรฑez proceeded with her lecture on Language and Gender. She began by clarifying the distinction between s*x and gender, explaining that s*x is biological and unchangeable, whereas gender is socially constructed and can change over time.
Prof. Ibaรฑez discussed how language reflects gender, noting that it often mirrors social hierarchies and established gender norms. She elaborated on several linguistic phenomena such as gendered vocabulary, lexical asymmetry, and occupational terms that historically default to male references. She also examined how insults, slurs, and gendered expressions reinforce stereotypes and Inequality. She underscored that language is not merely a reflection of society but also a powerful tool that shapes perception and behavior. According to her, โLanguage is powerful. It can make or unmake you.โ She encouraged students to use language consciously to promote equality and inclusivity.
In the second part of her lecture, Assoc. Prof. Ibaรฑez discussed Gender-Fair and Inclusive Language, which involves avoiding gendered terms in academic materials, using gender-neutral pronouns, and replacing exclusive terms with inclusive alternatives such as โstudentsโ instead of โfreshmenโ or โfaculty membersโ instead of โprofessors and lady professors.โ She also elaborated on s*xism in language, presenting examples of hostile and benevolent s*xism that manifest in daily speech, literature, and media. Furthermore, she discussed strategies for promoting gender-fair language, including neutralization of gender-specific terms, feminization, avoidance of hidden assumptions, variation in sequencing, and the use of gender-affirmative expressions. She concluded with a compelling call to action: โLet us start from ourselves for us to promote gender equality because language is powerful.โ
To conclude the session, the participants reflected on their learnings. Justine Masadao, one of the attendees, shared her insight, stating, โIn our society, gender bias is really happening. We should use our voices not just to stereotype others, but to fight for equality.โ
The seminar successfully deepened the studentsโ understanding of the intricate relationship between language and gender, emphasizing the role of linguists and language students in fostering equality through responsible language use. Indeed, the session reminded everyone that words carry power and through language, we can challenge biases, promote respect, and advocate for a more inclusive society.
