The issue of gender in language has been a subject of contention among linguists and gender activists, who for years have felt that our languages objectify and oppress women. This contention goes beyond grammatical gender - the masculinity and femininity of nouns… but speaks to how man and women communicate. Phrases such as 'don't be a sissy' or 'talk like a man' are often used to embolden boys and young man. But is being a sissy such a bad thing? On the Forum@8 we ask; how is language used to oppress women? ...... In conversation with Head of the Wits language school Dr Kim Wallmach and Nisaa Executive Director Dr Zubeda Dangor