Gender Stereotype as a Vehicle for Social Change? The Case of the Kong Girl

Munkyung, Agnes KANG; Katherine CHEN

Gender Stereotype as a Vehicle for Social Change? The Case of the Kong Girl

Munkyung, Agnes KANG, Katherine CHEN

Lingnan University

Research output: Other Conference Contributions › Conference Paper (other) › Other Conference Paper

Abstract

The “Kong Girl”, an other-attributed stereotype of some Hong Kong women, has been circulating in the media since the mid-2000s. The process of associating social meanings to the Kong Girl label is an indexical process that becomes further heightened in situations of uncertainty and change. Hall (2014) uses the term “indexical dissonance” to explain the state of identity under globalization, where the link between linguistic forms and social meanings becomes disrupted and destabilized. The shift from “negative” to more “positive” perspectives on the Kong Girl stereotype, we argue, reflects a micro as well as macrolevel struggle to reconcile instabilities in a changing social world.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - May 2016
Event	9th International Gender and Language Association Conference - City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Duration: 19 May 2016 → 21 May 2016 https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/files/13142869/IGALA9ProgrammeBooklet.pdf

Conference

Conference	9th International Gender and Language Association Conference
Abbreviated title	IGALA 9
Country/Territory	Hong Kong
City	Hong Kong
Period	19/05/16 → 21/05/16
Internet address	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/files/13142869/IGALA9ProgrammeBooklet.pdf

Bibliographical note

Invited Paper. Paper was invited as part of an invited panel at the conference.

Cite this

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title = "Gender Stereotype as a Vehicle for Social Change? The Case of the Kong Girl",

abstract = "The “Kong Girl”, an other-attributed stereotype of some Hong Kong women, has been circulating in the media since the mid-2000s. The process of associating social meanings to the Kong Girl label is an indexical process that becomes further heightened in situations of uncertainty and change. Hall (2014) uses the term “indexical dissonance” to explain the state of identity under globalization, where the link between linguistic forms and social meanings becomes disrupted and destabilized. The shift from “negative” to more “positive” perspectives on the Kong Girl stereotype, we argue, reflects a micro as well as macrolevel struggle to reconcile instabilities in a changing social world.",

author = "KANG, {Munkyung, Agnes} and Katherine CHEN",

note = "Invited Paper. Paper was invited as part of an invited panel at the conference.; 9th International Gender and Language Association Conference, IGALA 9 ; Conference date: 19-05-2016 Through 21-05-2016",

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AU - KANG, Munkyung, Agnes

AU - CHEN, Katherine

N1 - Invited Paper. Paper was invited as part of an invited panel at the conference.

PY - 2016/5

Y1 - 2016/5

N2 - The “Kong Girl”, an other-attributed stereotype of some Hong Kong women, has been circulating in the media since the mid-2000s. The process of associating social meanings to the Kong Girl label is an indexical process that becomes further heightened in situations of uncertainty and change. Hall (2014) uses the term “indexical dissonance” to explain the state of identity under globalization, where the link between linguistic forms and social meanings becomes disrupted and destabilized. The shift from “negative” to more “positive” perspectives on the Kong Girl stereotype, we argue, reflects a micro as well as macrolevel struggle to reconcile instabilities in a changing social world.

AB - The “Kong Girl”, an other-attributed stereotype of some Hong Kong women, has been circulating in the media since the mid-2000s. The process of associating social meanings to the Kong Girl label is an indexical process that becomes further heightened in situations of uncertainty and change. Hall (2014) uses the term “indexical dissonance” to explain the state of identity under globalization, where the link between linguistic forms and social meanings becomes disrupted and destabilized. The shift from “negative” to more “positive” perspectives on the Kong Girl stereotype, we argue, reflects a micro as well as macrolevel struggle to reconcile instabilities in a changing social world.

M3 - Conference Paper (other)

T2 - 9th International Gender and Language Association Conference

Y2 - 19 May 2016 through 21 May 2016

ER -

Gender Stereotype as a Vehicle for Social Change? The Case of the Kong Girl

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

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Cite this