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A Study on the Address of “Mr.Zhang Guimei” from the Perspective of Constructivism

Author(s)

Zhang Chuanxin

Affiliation(s)

College of Foreign Languages, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China

Abstract

In the context of traditional gender binary opposition, the choice of titles often reflects societal assumptions and expectations about individual gender identity. As modern society’s understanding of gender becomes more diverse and inclusive, individuals’ expressions of their own identity have also become more varied and complex. To explore the social context and individual cognition behind the use of addresses, the study uses “Zhang Guimei xian sheng” as a case study. Based on constructivist theory, it is found that both Mr.(xian sheng) and Ms.(nv shi) underwent a process of schema shift in modern times. However, the further shift of Mr. to a more modern form has led to gender bias, with a more complex schema change, which has set the stage for current controversies.

Keywords

Address; Constructivism; Schema Downshift

References

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