WOMEN THROUGH TIMES: A SOCIO-STYLISTIC COGNITION ON THE PHYLOGENESIS OF WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN THE SOCIETY THROUGH COMMUNICATION STYLE

Abstract

This study was an exploration of women’s representation in Philippine society. To explicitly put, it sought to unravel the phylogenesis of women’s depiction in society perceived by their communication style with the changes therein through time. This Socio-stylistic cognition on the changes in communication patterns covered women’s interaction from the 19th to 21st century with the synchronic and diachronic approaches on textual analysis focused on Holmes Social dimension tools (distance, social, formality, and functional scaling) and Mills Stylistic tools (lexical, syntactical, and discourse level). The representation of women in society is portrayed in the manner of their communication style as such in the 19th century when women were generally viewed as a homemaker and for domestication with high regard on social etiquette and belief system. Also, in the 20th century, women exhibited control and could finally have an equal chance in higher education and the workforce. Moreover, 21st-century women’s liberation profoundly intensified and was supported by non-discriminatory 21st society. Finally, this study on women’s metamorphosis in society’s representation is highly significant with the trend of globalization in which a need to assimilate women’s portrayal may result in augmentation of women empowerment brought by social awareness hence, extenuating indifference.