Symbolic Violence in Patriarchal Language Culture Against Women: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of English Education Students in Indonesian Higher Education

Authors

  • Hamid Ismail

    English Education Department, Institut Sains dan Kependidikan Kie Raha, Ternate 97747, Indonesia
  • Saiful

    English Education Department, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Makassar 90111, Indonesia
  • Rina Asrini Bakri

    English Education Department, STKIP YPUP, Makassar 90111, Indonesia
  • Selvi Panggua

    English Education Department, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Toraja 91811, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i8.10502
Received: 13 June 2025 | Revised: 20 June 2025 | Accepted:26 June 2025 | Published Online: 1 August 2025

Abstract

This study examines the manifestation of symbolic violence within patriarchal language culture against female students in English Education departments at Indonesian universities, specifically focusing on Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar. Utilizing Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework of symbolic violence and habitus, this qualitative research investigates how language serves as a tool of gender based oppression in academic environments. Through semi-structured interviews with three participants (two female and one male student) and ethnographic observations, the study reveals persistent gender-based linguistic discrimination despite students'theoretical understanding of gender equality concepts. The results demonstrate that certain vocabulary items, particularly profanity and emotional expressions, remain predominantly accessible to male students, while female students face social sanctions for using similar language. Three primary forms of symbolic violence were identified: restrictions on specific vulgar terminology (“telaso,”“sundala”), differential standards for emotional expression, and gendered expectations in formal address (“you”vs. “we”). The research identifies emotional states, humor, and disappointment as key triggers for these linguistic manifestations. The implications extend beyond mere language use to encompass broader patterns of gender subordination that reproduce patriarchal power structures within educational settings. This study contributes to the understanding of how symbolic violence operates through everyday linguistic practices, highlighting the need for critical awareness of gendered language norms in Indonesian higher education contexts. The study results demonstrate that formal gender education initiatives, while present, have proven insufficient to eliminate deeply embedded cultural practices that perpetuate linguistic inequality, indicating an urgent need for more comprehensive institutional approaches to addressing symbolic violence in academic environments.

Keywords:

Symbolic Violence; Patriarchal Language; Gender Discrimination; Sociolinguistics; Indonesian Higher Education; Language and Power

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How to Cite

Ismail, H., Saiful, Bakri, R. A., & Panggua, S. (2025). Symbolic Violence in Patriarchal Language Culture Against Women: A Sociolinguistic Analysis of English Education Students in Indonesian Higher Education. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(8), 399–410. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i8.10502

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 8 (August 2025): In progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Hamid Ismail, Saiful, Rina Asrini Bakri, Selvi Panggua

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.