‘It happens in the best families’: gender and family ideologies in Jordanian family-related proverbs

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study discusses gender and family-related proverbs in Jordanian Arabic (JA). It employs Hofstede’s dimensions of culture, especially the following: power distance, masculinity-femininity, and individualism-collectivism. These concepts help interpret culturally specific meanings in these short sayings. The data contain 100 JA proverbs. They are analysed in light of Hofstede’s model to identify the values inherent in ideas of family, power distribution between family members and gender practices. With reference to literature, the analysis reveals similarities with other cultures in some socio-cultural norms. The study suggests that patriarchal values and norms are widespread across cultures and that proverbs reveal this ideology.KEYWORDS: CulturecollectivismfemininityHofstede’s modelindividualismmasculinitypatriarchy Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Notes1. Anderson, J. A. 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She has a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Mutah University, Jordan and a BA degree in Applied English from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan. She is an assistant professor of Linguistics at Applied Science Private University (Amman, Jordan). Her current research interests are in the field of Psycholinguistics, Cognitive Semantics, Pragmatics, Contrastive Linguistics and Intercultural Communication.Hana O. KhalilHana O. Khalil earned her PhD degree in Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Jordan. Currently, she is an associate Professor at Isra University (Amman, Jordan). Her current research interests are in the field of Arabic Literature, Anthropology, Cultural Diversity, Pragmatics and Intercultural Communication.