METAPHORICAL ELEMENTS IN GENDERED SLURS
METAPHORICAL ELEMENTS IN GENDERED SLURS

Summary/Abstract: The article explores derogatory language targeting people and based on their gender. It focuses on the metaphorical meaning of gendered slurs in English. As a background to the analysis, the general nature of sexist discourse is discussed. The analysis of the metaphorical component of gendered slurs and labels is based on the cognitive concept of metaphor as the blending of two different conceptual spaces. The analysis reveals that there are some general differences in the schematic mappings of metaphorical slurs targeting women and those targeting men. These differences reflect the different social expectations for women and men. At the same time, it can be observed that conceptual correspondences in both types of slurs reveal judgements about social normativity and morality.

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