Androcentric language sets a different standard for men and women

Androcentric language reinforces gender roles by having a different standard for how men and women are described. Women are more likely to have their appearance described while men are more likely to be defined by their accomplishments or activities.^[1] Appearance being focused on with women but not men is so common that it has a name: featurism. Focusing on this trivializes the contribution or accomplishments of the woman.^[2] Studies have highlighted the differences in the description for men and women for federal funding reviews, letters of recommendation, and tenure evaluations in the medical field. Men’s careers or research are referenced, and they are described by values such as assertive or ambitious. Women’s training or teaching abilities are referenced, and they are described by values such as warm or communal. These differences reinforce gender roles and hold women back from advancement.^[3] There is also a different standard for how men and women are defined. For example, unmarried women have been called spinsters while unmarried men were bachelors. Additionally, men are defined on their own, but women are often defined by their relationship to men. An example of this is the phrase "man and wife". The man is defined as an individual, while the woman is defined by her relationship to the man, his wife. The idea of defining women by their relationship to men can also be seen by the woman taking the man’s last name being the unquestioned norm.^[1] Another example is how a woman’s title is dependent on her marital status (Mrs. Versus Ms. Versus Miss) while a man’s title is not (they are always Mr.).^[2]

[P1] Androcentric language reinforces gender roles by having a different standard for how men and women are described. [P2] Men and women are also defined differently with men being defined on their own and women often defined by their relationship to men.