Mapping Language Sexism and Gender Biases in Lumawig’s Mythical Variants

Abstract

This study deals with the influences and shifts of the male and female roles in Lumawig mythical variants common in the indigenous oral texts of the Kankanaeys and Bontoksin the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines. Basing from the literary variants, typical stereotyped portrayals and identification of biases were analyzed anchored in the book of Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf. Theoretically, it is focused on the improvement of Lumawig myths through gender bias and stylistics analysis at the word, sentence and discourse level. The language sexism part is based on the analysis of literary variations’ usage of universal words on gender and on how the characters are described. Through character analysis females are described either as attractive, passive, obedient, dull and evil women. However, the male protagonist is depicted as cultural hero and rescuer. These biased character representations are discriminatory among men as they highlight their optimistic characteristics and illustrate female´s lesser character in the Igorot culture. It shows also that the mythical variants did not manifest language sexism in the word level but rather focused in the sentence and discourse level. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijhss.11.1.2