Muted group theory

The Muted Group Theory was firstly developed in the field of cultural anthropology; however, it has been taken up by other fields of inquiry such as communication, feminist, and cross-cultural studies. Introduced by the British Anthropologist Edwin Ardener, the Muted Group Theory is a critical theory that explores the asymmetrical relationship – mostly established by language – between dominant and silenced groups. Ardern’s study shows that it is men that have mainly produced ideas and knowledge concerning the world. Consequently, the voices of women have been ignored and ‘muted’. As part of the critical approach to the world, the Muted Group Theory explores power and societal structure in relation to the dynamism between dominant and subordinated groups. As aforementioned the Muted Group Theory has been conceptualized, elaborated, and applied by many scholars. These include but are not limited to: (1) Edwin Ardener, (2) Shirley Ardener, (3) Cheris Kramarae, (4) Mark P. Orbe.