English and Belarusian Gender-marked Idioms and Proverbs: Linguistic and Cultural Peculiarities

Abstract

This article explores how gender concepts are portrayed in English and Belarusian idioms and proverbs according to gender linguistics and linguocultural studies. Based on an analysis of over a hundred Belarusian and English examples, it concludes that societal perceptions of masculinity and femininity are shaped by culture, history, and religion. Furthermore, the study finds that English idioms and proverbs are more androcentric, while Belarusian phraseology demonstrates greater gender equality. The authors conclude that while English emphasizes male independence and bravery, Belarusian often highlights typical male professions and the role of a man as a husband or father, and the concept of mother is generally unique to the Belarusian language