Stereotypic Assumptions: English Vocabulary List

used to imply that women who engage in behaviors that are traditionally associated with men or masculinity are inappropriate and unworthy of respect or acceptance

"Unfeminine behavior is bad."

"Her grandmother disapproved of her ambition, muttering that a whistling woman and a crowing hen are neither fit for God nor men."

used to imply that women's primary role is within the household, and that their most valuable contribution to society is as a wife and mother

"A woman's place is home."

"The notion that a woman's place is in the home has been thoroughly dismantled by generations of working women."

used to imply that women have an endless list of responsibilities and duties that often go unnoticed or undervalued, and that they are expected to prioritize others over themselves

"Her work is never done."

"Between the office, the children, and the household, she felt deeply that a woman's work is never done."

used to suggest that it is essential to see things clearly without any illusions or romanticized ideas before making a significant decision

"Don't choose by candlelight."

"Do not choose your women or your linen by candlelight, for poor lighting can hide important flaws."

used to imply that a daughter's worth lies only in her ability to get married and that she is a burden on her family if she remains unmarried

"Marry off daughters quickly."

"The old proverb that daughters and dead fish are not keeping wares reflects a harsh historical attitude toward women's futures."

used to imply women live luxuriously in England, while horses are mistreated and overworked, and domestic servants lead a challenging life

"England: women's paradise."

"England is the paradise of women, the hell of horses and the purgatory of servants — a sharp historical observation about class and comfort."

used to suggest that women are more dangerous or aggressive than men

"Female is more deadly."

"In competitive negotiations, she was formidable — the female of the species is more deadly than the male."

used to suggest that a woman's anger and retaliation can be intense and powerful, and that it is unwise to underestimate or provoke her in such circumstances

"Woman's fury is hell."

"The company dismissed her concerns for years, and when she went public, they discovered that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

used to insult unmarried women by suggesting that they are inferior, undesirable, and destined for a life of misery and punishment in the afterlife

"Old maids lead apes."

"People in the village would whisper that old maids lead apes in hell whenever she passed by unmarried."

used to suggest that women talk too much or are too outspoken and that they should be more restrained in their speech

"Woman's tongue is enough."

"The proverb one tongue is enough for a woman reflects a long history of attempting to silence female voices."

used to imply that a woman's virtue and beauty are best demonstrated by her silence

"Silence is woman's garment."

"The idea that silence is a woman's best garment has been challenged and dismantled by generations of outspoken women."

used to suggest that a woman who focuses solely on maintaining a clean house may not be engaging in more stimulating or fulfilling activities

"A tidy house holds a bored woman reflects how domestic expectations once suppressed women's ambitions."

"The saying a tidy house holds a bored woman captures the frustration of capable women confined to domestic roles."

used to suggest that cooking and serving food that a man enjoys is a way to win his affection and love

"He always cooks for her — the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

"She brought homemade food to every meeting, understanding that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

used to suggest that men require less sleep than women, and anyone who sleeps for more than eight hours is foolish

"He sleeps eight hours every night — six hours for a man, seven for a woman, eight for a fool!"

"She teased her husband for needing nine hours of sleep, quoting six hours for a man, eight for a fool."

used to suggest that women are primarily valued for their beauty and youth, while men are valued for their experience and wisdom

"He feels young at sixty — a man is as old as he feels."

"She looked a decade younger than her age — a man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks."

used to imply that it is impolite or inappropriate to disclose a man's salary or a woman's age in public

"It is polite not to reveal a man's wage and a woman's age."

"It is considered polite not to reveal a man's wage and a woman's age in many cultures around the world."

used to suggest that men who possess desirable qualities such as honesty, kindness, and reliability are not common or easy to find

"Kind and honest men are rare — good men are scarce."

"After years of difficult colleagues, she appreciated her new manager deeply — good men are scarce."

used to excuse or dismiss negative behavior by boys or men, with the implication that it is simply part of their nature

"The boys broke the window playing football — boys will be boys."

"They stayed up all night on a camping trip causing trouble, but boys will be boys."

used to imply that children should remain quiet and obedient in the presence of adults, and that their voices and opinions are not valuable or deserving of respect

"The children sat quietly at the dinner table — children should be seen and not heard."

"The old expectation that children should be seen and not heard is now considered harmful to child development."

used to suggest that it is men who are known for honoring their word, not women

"He believed words are for women, actions for men and rarely explained his decisions."

"The motto words are for women, actions for men led him to act without consultation, which often caused problems."

used to suggest that certain behavior or actions, such as being emotional or talkative, are typical or expected of girls or women

"They stayed up all night at the sleepover making noise — girls will be girls."

"They spent the whole afternoon shopping and gossiping about celebrities — honestly, girls will be girls sometimes."

used to imply that sometimes a woman can be more skilled, capable, or better than a man, emphasizing that gender does not determine one's abilities or qualities

"She runs everything in that family — the gray mare is the better horse."

"Despite his title, it was clearly his wife who made all the real decisions — the gray mare was the better horse."