This book investigates how language functions as a primary mechanism for constructing and reinforcing gender-based social differences and inequalities. Cate Poynton, an expert in sociolinguistics, argues that gendered identity is not merely reflected in vocabulary but is actively produced through grammatical choices and textual structures. By examining both spoken and written discourse, she demonstrates how the acquisition of language shapes the social development of children into distinct gendered roles.

Experts in the field of sociolinguistics recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of language acquisition and gender identity. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous framework for analyzing how social goals are achieved through specific linguistic choices.