Delta "marked"

 This week, we explored various writings, most of which were related to contemporary society, and scrutinized the authors’ purpose and notions. Reading the Unmarked Woman, by Deborah Tannen, inveigled me and resonated with me deeper. Tannen’s main argument is that women constantly are evaluated and scrutinized with only their superficial identity. She underscores her argument how “no woman is unmarked” while men have the choice to be marked or unmarked. To define what being “marked” and “unmarked” is, Tannen first explicitly states that marked is “a staple of linguistic theory.” The intended message that Tannen aspires to convey is that being unmarked is the idea of standing by the societal norms and beliefs (being normal), while being marked is a symbol of contrast, a multifaceted identity. Her conclusion is that women will always be marked, and will never be able to opt out of this constant pressure and accept that it is inevitable in our reality. Although this is a valid statement, I feel like her claim has a myriad of flaws and limitations. The notion I am presenting now, isn’t just concentrated on just gender, but for everything in our world. Unlike Tannen’s concrete belief, I believe that being unmarked and marked–the definiton–can change over time, contingent on what society accepts and supports. In short, being marked and unmarked at one point doesn't signify that it’s eternal. For example, in the 1980s-1990s, men choosing to have piercings, specifically earrings, implied that that individual chose to display himself as artistic, and possibly queer: this was a representation of being “marked.” However, in today’s world, when men wear earrings, people don’t surmise much; it’s become “unmarked” and a common, global fashion statement with not much meaning. I agree that Tannen may feel discriminated against, but if I were to meet her, I would remind her that being “marked” is never fixed and is constructed to change with society.


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Comments

  1. Aditya Sheelvanth2/08/2026

    Your comment effectively argues that being “marked” is not permanent but shaped by changing social norms. The example of men wearing earrings clearly shows how what was once marked can become unmarked over time. This challenges Tannen’s claim that women can never escape markedness.

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