GENDER BIAS IN TRANSLATION: CHALLENGES IN RENDERING GENDER-SPECIFIC TERMS

Аннотация

В данной статье рассматриваются проблемы гендерной предвзятости в переводе, а также связанные с этим лингвистические и идеологические трудности. Особое внимание уделяется переводу гендерно- окрашенных терминов — профессиональных наименований и местоимений — с английского на узбекский язык. Статья опирается на теории феминистского перевода и рассматривает случаи, когда в процессе перевода происходит искажение или утрата гендерного смысла. Также анализируется влияние отсутствия грамматического рода в узбекском языке на сохранение или стирание гендерной информации. Ключевые слова: гендерная предвзятость, феминистский перевод, гендерные термины, инклюзивный язык, идеологические сдвиги https://scientific-jl.com/new 22 22 44 Volume–80_Issue-1_July-2025 JOURNAL OF NEW CENTURY INNOVATIONS The issue of gender bias in translation is not merely a linguistic phenomenon but also a socio-cultural and ideological concern. In many source texts—especially those written in languages with grammatical gender such as English, French, German— gender is encoded explicitly through nouns and pronouns. However, when translating these texts into languages like Uzbek, which lack grammatical gender, preserving the intended gender identity becomes more complex. As Simon (1996) points out, “translation is not innocent—it reflects power relations, including those shaped by gender” [1, p. 12]. This notion provides the foundation for feminist translation theory, which aims to expose and resist the erasure or distortion of women’s voices and gender-specific meanings in translated texts. Theoretical Background Feminist translation theory emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as a reaction to androcentric language and male-dominated discourse in both original and translated works. Key figures such as Luise von Flotow, Sherry Simon, and Barbara Godard argued that language is inherently political and that translation can reproduce or challenge gender ideologies [2, p. 21]. Newmark (1988) viewed literal translation as insufficient in cases where socio- cultural nuances must be preserved [3, p. 83]. In the context of gendered language, the choice between faithfulness to the source text and ideological responsibility becomes a central dilemma. Gender-Specific Terms and Their Translation Occupational Titles English contains gender-specific job titles such as: Chairman, policeman, stewardess. Translating these into Uzbek often requires neutralization: Chairman → “rais” (gender-neutral) Stewardess → “havo yo‘lovchi xizmatkori” or “styuardessa” (borrowed, still female) However, neutralization can lead to erasure of gender identity, especially in feminist texts where highlighting the subject’s gender is intentional. Pronouns (In English) : He / She They (as a singular gender-neutral pronoun) In Uzbek: U (gender-neutral) The translation of "She is the director" as “U direktor” removes the gender marking, which in some contexts could lead to misinterpretation or invisibility of female presence. https://scientific-jl.com/new 22 22 55 Volume–80_Issue-1_July-2025 JOURNAL OF NEW CENTURY INNOVATIONS Gendered Metaphors and Expressions Metaphors such as “founding fathers” or “motherland” carry gendered ideological weight. Translators must decide whether to retain, adapt, or neutralize such expressions without distorting the original tone. Case Studies and Examples Feminist-Aware Source Term Literal Translation Translation Chairman Rais (neutral) Ayol rahbar (if context calls) She became a CEO U bosh direktor bo‘ldi U (ayol) bosh direktor bo‘ldi Founding fathers Asos soluvchilar (neutral) Dastlabki rahbarlar (reframed) Such examples show that literal translation often suppresses gender identity, and only a conscious approach can preserve intended nuances. Cultural and Ideological Challenges In cultures where gender neutrality is traditionally encoded in grammar, the absence of grammatical gender may be interpreted as inclusivity, but in fact, it can mask gender disparities. In post-Soviet linguistic environments, using gender-neutral terms was considered "progressive", yet they often led to invisibility of women in texts. Moreover, ideological decisions by translators or institutions (e.g., publishing houses) may influence whether gender-specific references are retained, adapted, or erased entirely. Gender bias in translation is a layered problem encompassing linguistic structure, cultural expectation, and ideological positioning. In source languages with grammatical gender, the translator faces the challenge of rendering this gender specificity into a target language that may lack such markers. While Uzbek, with its grammatically gender-neutral system, offers simplicity in structure, it also creates risks of gender erasure when translating texts where gender identity is central. Feminist translation theory offers a framework for resisting this erasure by highlighting the translator’s agency and responsibility in representing gender meanings accurately. Understanding an