Muted Group Theory proposes that women's perspectives are suppressed because language is constructed by men. It assumes that women experience the world differently but must express themselves using male-dominated language. This causes women's views to be muted or suppressed. The theory identifies ways in which women are muted, such as men controlling communication and naming experiences. It argues that women must modify their own perspectives to be understood. The theory provides insights but also has weaknesses, such as overgeneralizing gender differences and not explaining all workplace interactions. Muted Group Theory has applications in analyzing gender bias in various forms of media like advertising, films, music.

1. MUTED GROUP THEORY(MGT)Cao Kim Sang – s3311646Ngo My Huong – s3299558

2. Warm-up activityA: You are a girl.

3. B: You are a boy. Content Historical BackgroundThe definition of Muted group and MGTKey arguments of MGTThe ways women are mutedStrengths and weakness of MGT in Communication

4. Historical BackgroundEdwin ArdenerSocial anthropologist fromOxford University CherisKramaraeProfessor of speech communication and sociology at the University of Illinois

5. DEFINITION OF MUTED GROUPMuted group are people with little powerwhohave trouble giving voice to their perceptionsbecause they must re-encode their thoughts tomake them understood in the public sphere.For example: WOMAN

6. MUTED GROUP THEORYLanguage is literally a man-made construction(Cherish Kramarae)Men and women perceive the world and act differently.Women cannot express their ideas fully by using the language created by men.

7. MAN MADE LANGUAGEBy DALE SPENDER in 1980

8. MrvsMrsManvs WomanHuman = manOh man!Fight like a man!“Trang Nguyen” Competition in Vietnamese history

9. 3 ASSUMPTIONS of MGTWomen perceive the world differently from men because of women’s and men’s different experience and activities rooted in the division of labor.

10. 3 ASSUMPTIONS of MGTMen are politically dominate and suppress women’s ideas from public support

11. 3 ASSUMPTIONS of MGTWomen must convert their unique ideas, experiences, and meanings into male language in order to be heard.YingluckShinawatraThailand Prime MinisterHilary Clinton United States Secretary of State

12. In what ways women are muted?Men as the gatekeepers of communicationThe masculine power to name experience Women’s truth into men’s talk

13. The masculine power to name experience1

14. Group activityBad words to describe a man. Ex: Womanizer, sucker, …Bad words to describe a woman. Ex: Slut, whore, …

15. English language describes sexually promiscuous individuals Women More than 200 wordsSlut, whore, hooker, prostitute, trollop, harlot, mistress, Jezebel, hussy, concubine, streetwalker, easy lay, …Men22 wordsPlayboy, stud, rake, gigolo, player, Don Juan, lothario, womanizer

16. Men as the gatekeeper of communication2

17. Examples: Rituals Wedding ceremonyIdeologies and stereotypesVietnamese community exampleSportsParenthoodSexual harassment

18. Women’s truth into men’s talk 3

19. Resistance of womenTo build trust from the public, women have to talk like a manChanging the man-made linguistic system that keeps women “in their place”

20. STRENGTHSNew understanding of peopleClarification of valueAesthetic appealDiscussion and agreement in communityReform of society

21. WEAKNESSESMen are sometimes classified as the “muted group”.MGT doesn’t explain all interactions that are possible to obtain goals in workplace.

22. Application in CommunicationAdvertising: the role of women in societyFilm: bias gender in Walt Disney moviesMusic

23. Reference ListGriffin, E A 2009, A first look at communication theory, 7thedn, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston.Baer, J 1998, ‘Muted group theory by CherisKramarae’, Colorado, viewed 4 April 2011, <http://www.colorado.edu/communication/meta-discourses/Papers/App_Papers/Baer.htm>.Bryner J 2007, ‘Why Men Dominate Math and Science Fields’, Live Science, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.livescience.com/1927-men-dominate-math-science-fields.html>.‘Chinsu Garlic and Chili Soy Sauce’, Youtube 2010, 27 May, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUTkeujF3Q&feature=related>.‘Gender & Disney’, Youtube 2008, December 2008, viewed 10 August 2011, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8O8p0Ac1Rg>.Greenslade R 2011, ‘Men still dominate national newspaper journalism’, Guardian, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/mar/04/women-national-newspapers>.

24. Reference List‘Miss Independent with lyrics’, Youtube 2009, 4 July, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZD3zCUzYcg&feature=related>.‘OmoTet 2006 Telepaphy‘, Youtube2010, 25 May, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVRr4JHhrC4>.Rooney B 2011, ‘Men Dominate U.K Political Blogosphere’, The Wall Street Journal, <http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2011/07/15/men-dominate-u-k-political-blogosphere/>Senner, L 1999, ‘Muted group theory’, Colorado, viewed 9 April 2011, < http://www.colorado.edu/communication/meta-discourses/Papers/App_Papers/Senner.htm>.Spender D 1998, Men Made Language, 2ndedn, Pandora, Indiana University. Women’s Day: women beat men, any day! Superwomen ads, Youtube 2011, 8 March, viewed 10 August 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJBjmUuC-4Y>