When Mamma gets milked: Sexism in Sign Languages
Our grandson, 13 months old, can only speak a few syllables, but these few all the more forcefully. Suddenly overcome with excitement, the sweet little boy will shout at penetrating volume and in a commanding tone “Dat!” or “Ayt!” or “Mammammam!”
He’s not yet able to say “more!” – but he can signify it with a gesture. His mother explained that he had already learned a few signs of Baby Sign Language (Baby SL). When he wants to nurse, he makes the sign for “milk.” It is derived from the act of milking a cow: he opens and closes his little fist in a milking motion.
The little boy doesn’t…