Gender Bias Reflected in Monolingual Dictionaries and Its Transformation Over Time

Abstract

Gender bias denotes asymmetrical attitudes and evaluations formed on the basis of sex, grounded in socially constructed stereotypes and prescribed roles. It manifests in both linguistic practices and broader cultural and social discourse. In this context, the examination of dictionaries is of particular significance, as dictionaries constitute not only representations of the structural and conceptual dimensions of language but also repositories of societal norms and values.

This article investigates the presence of gender bias in monolingual dictionaries and its evolution over time. Drawing upon four major lexicographic works - Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Noah Webster’s An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), the Cambridge Dictionary (1995), and the Explanatory Dictionary of the Georgian Language (1950)—the study demonstrates how gender bias is manifested in lexical definitions and illustrative examples, which are, in turn, shaped by prevailing social norms and attitudes toward gender within distinct historical and cultural contexts.

The article further examines instances in which gender stereotypes are either marginalized or perpetuated. A comparative analysis of examples drawn from the aforementioned dictionaries indicates a progressive transformation in perceptions of gender roles, attributable to social developments, including the influence of feminist thought and specific linguistic shifts. Moreover, the study underscores the role of lexicographers and the sources they employ in the formation and transmission of gender bias.

Overall, the article contributes to scholarly discourse on the decisive role of social norms, culture, and lexicographic practice in shaping the conceptualization and interpretation of gender- related constructs.