An approach to changing attitudes towards sexist language among Puerto Rican high school students

This study investigated the effect that instruction would have on Puerto Rican high school students' ability to recognize sexist language and whether the effect would be different between bilinguals and nonbilinguals. It also investigated the possibility of inducing a positive change of attitudes towards nonsexist language through classroom instruction and whether the bilinguals and nonbilinguals would differ in this change. Two groups, bilingual and nonbilingual, received the same instruction and responded to a pre and post questionnaire which measured recognition and attitude towards sexist language.;Findings of the study suggest that instruction can have a positive effect on students' ability to recognize sexist language and that it can induce a positive change in attitude towards nonsexist language. Although bilinguals were initially more sensitive to sexist language, no significant difference was found between the two groups in their ability to recognize sexist language or in their change of attitude towards nonsexist language.