Investigating Linguistic Sexismin Popular Ilokano Songs

This study investigates linguistic sexism within the lyrics of ten popular Ilokano songs using Sarah Mills’ feminist stylistics framework. Analysis focused on both word-level and discourse-level elements, exploring how gender roles and biases are embedded in song lyrics. Despite the pervasive presence of gendered language in many cultures, this research reveals that the selected Ilokano songs largely employ gender-neutral language and portray both male and female characters without obvious bias. The absence of gendered generic words and balanced descriptions of characters challenge traditional views on linguistic sexism in Ilokano, a language spoken by millions in the Philippines and globally. These findings contribute to broader discussions on language and gender, suggesting that linguistic practices in Ilokano songs may reflect evolving societal norms around gender equality.