page_title: Muted group theory
section_title: Sexuality
hierarchical_section_title: Muted group theory / Applications / Variables / Sexuality
caption_attribution_description: English: 'Older LGBT Group celebrating Pride' in Trafalgar Square, London.
context_page_description: Muted group theory, created by Edwin Ardener and Shirley Ardener in 1975, is a communication theory that focuses on how marginalized groups are muted and excluded via the use of language. The main idea of MGT is that "Language serves its creators better than those in other groups who have to learn to use the language as best they can."
  The term mutedness refers to a group's inability to express themselves due to this inequity. The theory describes the relationship between a dominant group and its subordinate group as being as follows: 1 the dominant group contributes mostly to the formulation of the language system, including the social norms and vocabulary, and 2 members from the subordinate group have to learn and use the dominant language to express themselves. However, this translation process may result in the loss and distortion of information as the people from subordinate groups cannot articulate their ideas clearly. The dominant group may also ignore the voice of the marginalized group. All these may eventually lead to the mutedness of the subordinate group.
context_section_description: LGBT groups are considered marginalized and muted in our society. The dominant groups who "hold privileged positions within society" have developed social norms that marginalize LGBT groups. Although LGBT individuals do not necessarily share the same identity, they share similar experiences of being marginalized by the dominant groups. As Gross notes, "For many oppressed groups the experience of commonality is largely the commonality of their difference from, and oppression by, the dominant culture". In order to function and achieve success within the dominant culture, LGBT groups must adopt certain communication strategies to match the social norms.
caption: Application in LGBT study - "Older LGBT Group celebrating Pride" in Trafalgar Square, London.
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