ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the focus of the book – how to research representations of gender and sexuality in language. It starts with the observation that, within the field of language, gender and sexuality, there has been a historical shift away from notions of ‘gender difference’ to more fluid ideas about gender and sexualities as multiple, temporal and performative. Scholars in the field no longer ask, ‘What are the differences (between genders and between sexualities)?’, but instead ask, ‘Why is there so much emphasis on differences?’ The chapter considers how this shift has resulted in a greater focus on linguistic representations of gender and sexuality, rather than a focus on the linguistic behaviour of groups and individuals. The chapter goes on to introduce some gender- and sexuality-related terminology used throughout the book, as well as some key concepts explored later in the book related to language, gender and sexuality, such as ideology, discourse, globalisation and intersectionality.
