How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
I want to thank the Mills College Class of '83 for offering me a rare chance: to speak aloud in public in the language of women. (1)
Somewhere, sitting alone in a room filled with ancient computers and monitors, there was a lone man sitting at the controls doing a spit-take and exclaiming, "Oh @#%*! We let one get through!"
Quote #2
There is a Greek tragedy where the Greek says to the foreigner, "If you don't understand Greek, please signify by nodding." (3)
We thought this was a really interesting parable. There's no winning, here: the guy might nod because he doesn't understand Greek, (in which case, how does he know to nod??) or he might nod because he doesn't understand they're telling him to nod, it's just a natural gesture of confusion. It's a real head-scratcher, but it certainly highlights the importance of proper communication skills.
Quote #3
Public speaking is done in the public tongue, the national or tribal language; and the language of our tribe is the men's language. Of course women learn it. We're not dumb. If you can tell Margaret Thatcher from Ronald Reagan, or Indira Gandhi from General Somoza, by anything they say, tell me how. This is a man's world, so it talks a man's language. (7-11)
Other than knowing context, can you tell the gender of public speakers based on their words alone? And, according to Le Guin, how would you then classify their words as masculine ones?
Quote #4
Maybe we've had enough words of power and talk about the battle of life. Maybe we need some words of weakness. (15-16)
She goes on to say that using "words of weakness" will be talking like a woman in public, and that it'll sound all wrong. But her "words of weakness" involve wishing that the graduates go on to have children—if they want them. How are those words of weakness?
Quote #5
Instead of saying now that I hope you will all go forth from this ivory tower of college into the Real World and forge a triumphant career or at least help your husband to and keep our country strong and be a success in everything – instead of talking about power, what if I talked like a woman right here in public? It won't sound right. It's going to sound terrible. (17-19)
So, using her argument, women don't speak about power or success. Do you find this to be true? Are there gendered conversational topics?