Metaphors of femininity

Abstract

In every culture there exists a certain gender order which specifies the patterns of power relations connected to particular types of masculinity and femininity (CONNELL, 1987; GIDDENS, 2006). Over the time the existing types of masculinity and femininity turn into cultural stereotypes. Their stereotypical nature is confirmed by the language we use. Some stereotypes are translated into metaphors, which are realized in language as metaphorical expressions. The main assumption of the paper involves the one-way dependency: gender order gender stereotypes gender metaphors In other words, the language reflects the gender order specific for a particular culture. The aim of the paper is to analyse the metaphors related to the types of femininity specific for Polish culture. Polish culture can be characterized as a culture “in transition”, which since 1989 has been undergoing significant transformations (cf. LUBECKA, 2000). These transformations are visible also in social life and social relations. Certain changes can be noticed in gender order and the types of femininity. The main research questions are the following: Are the changes above mentioned reflected in the Polish language? And if so, how do they affect the “metaphors we live by”?