Abstract:Sexist expression is the reflection of sexism in language which is embodied in words, phrases and so on specifically. In order to deepen the understanding of sexism in different languages, Conceptual Metaphor Theory is introduced as a framework for comparison. Conceptual metaphor is defined as a cross-domain mapping between conceptual domains. It has cultural diversity and universality. After comparing the sexist expression in English and Chinese, the results show that the two languages share the five underlying conceptual metaphors WOMAN IS ANIMAL, WOMAN IS PLANT, WOMAN IS FOOD, WOMAN IS A PART OF MAN, and WOMAN IS GOODS in sexist expressions. And the two languages differ mostly in the specific animal, plant, food, goods in the expressions that realize the conceptual metaphors. 

Key words: Sexist expressions；Conceptual Metaphor Theory；Comparison

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction..1

2. Sexist Expression1

2.1 Definition of Sexism

2.2 Definition of Sexist Expression

3. Conceptual Metaphor Theory..3

3.1 The Definition of Conceptual Metaphor

3.2 The Features of Conceptual Metaphor

3.3 The Types of Conceptual Metaphor

4. Comparison of Sexist Expressions in Chinese and English in terms of Conceptual Metaphor Theory5

4.1 WOMAN IS ANIMAL

4.1.1 WOMAN IS ANIMAL in English

4.1.2 WOMAN IS ANIMAL in Chinese

4.2 WOMAN IS PLANT

4.2.1 WOMAN IS PLANT in English

4.2.2 WOMAN IS PLANT in Chinese

  4.3 WOMAN IS FOOD

  4.3.1 WOMAN IS FOOD in English

  4.3.2 WOMAN IS FOOD in Chinese

  4.4 WOMAN IS A PART OF MAN

  4.4.1 WOMAN IS A PART OF MAN in English

  4.4.2 WOMAN IS A PART OF MAN in Chinese

  4.5 WOMAN IS GOODS

  4.5.1 WOMAN IS GOODS in English

  4.5.2 WOMAN IS GOODS in Chinese

  4.6 Summary

5. Social and Cultural Effects19

 5.1 Social Effects

 5.2 Cultural Effects

6. Conclusion21

Bibliography..22