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Male sex roles and epithets for ethnic women in American slang

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Abstract

The historical inventory of derogatory names for women of ethnic outgroups displays, in intensified form, the strains of traditional male sex roles—and subsequent aggression—both in ethnic and gender relations. Epithets for ethnic women derogate both sex and ethnic roles. The words are aimed disproportionately at women of racial minorities; stereotype physical differences between ethnic groups; and make derogatory sexual allusions, often using food and animal metaphors.

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Allen, I.L. Male sex roles and epithets for ethnic women in American slang. Sex Roles 11, 43–50 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287439

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287439

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