Researchers say

Dirty words assert dominance

By Kathryn Johnson

Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA, Ga. The average

of taboo words than do females."

.ably pick up a much larger vocabulary. The words included: man, woman, male homosexual, female homosexual, She said the sex-related slang buttocks, breasts, kissing, sexual interyoung man knows more dirty words vocabulary shared by middle class course and other words known to have than the average young female, and males probably serves an important slang or taboo synonyms. such words reinforce the sex roles in function in preserving the link between American society, two university rethe sex role differences in male and

searchers say.

female in social status and power.

ability to recall slang words he or she "Our study dealt with the subject's knew, even though that person might not use them in speaking," said Dr. Brogan.

Sex-related slang in the study

"Male students equated women The results were not exactly a surwith sex objects 79 times during a sexprise to the researchers, but they said related slang study while women did so "the most distinctive result was the only 18 times," said Dr. Nancy Kutner, greater frequency of males to list exassistant professor of sociology at pressions that described women as sex meant words and phrases, often but not Emory University. objects." necessarily regarded as taboo or vulphysiological functions or activities congarisms, which are used as synonyms for persons, parts of the anatomy, nected with the sex act.

Dr. Kutner, who collaborated with

Dr. Donna Brogan, associate professor of biometry, said their research supports arguments that male language exhibits "sexploitation and is a powerful mechanism in reinforcing sex roles in our society.

"The acquisition of the language is a constant learning process, so we feel the difference probably has been growing from very early childhood," said Dr.

Kutner.

course," males more often listed words For the phrase "sexual interthat convey an image of male dominance of the female during sex acts.

Asked to name some of the slang

Females were more euphemistic and romantic, offering terms such as words male students used, Dr. Brogan "love," "make love," "going to bed" and said, laughing: "You probably wouldn't "sleeping together." want to print any of the words." To measure sex-related slang A footnote on their study reads: vocabulary, they listed 17 stimulus "The authors themselves were words and phrases on separate pages unfamiliar with several expressions listand gave them to 129 undergraduates ed by subjects, necessitating the assist⚫ance of male consultants."

"Males, beginning in school, proband 37 graduate nurses.