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Gender and Language
Men and women express themselves differently in both verbal and non-verbal communications. Most if not all of the differences between male and female communications are socialized. Because of gender socialization, men and women will use different diction and linguistic styles.
I am familiar with each of the examples of gender-based language listed in the class notes. In fact, I can think of many more ways in which women and men use language differently from each other. For example, many women use terms like "like," or "y'know" more than men do in casual conversations. Women tend also to converse using more empathy than men, who may speak from personal experience before saying, "Oh, I know exactly how you feel." Moreover, I have noticed that more women than men will make a simple statement sound like a question by raising the tone of the final word of a sentence. The effect conveys insecurity and uncertainty, just as the use of "like" and "y'know" does.
These and other linguistic phenomenon can be traced to social status issues, just as the class notes suggest. I would further hypothesize that uncertainty in women's speech is directly related to women's lower social status vs. men. Women are socialized to be less domineering than men are and their speech may reflect that. In the class notes, this phenomenon is referred to as cooperative speech vs. aggressive speech.
Likewise, women are socialized to be politer and more deferential than men are, and their communication styles reflect that as well. This line of thought coincides with the thesis offered Deuchar (1988) outlined in the class notes. Women may use standard forms instead of prestige forms "to maintain face in interactions that offer them little power." When women do use prestige forms, they may do so to assert their power directly.
There is also some evidence which suggests that the right hemisphere of the female brain has a greater capacity to express and perceive "emotional" vocalizations or language abilities, and that females are superior with regard to their sensitivity to understand, perceive "and express empathy and social emotional nuances" (Joseph, 2000). Even in childhood women are more likely to express themselves emotionally than males, who traditionally have difficulty expressing themselves except
Women speak more dramatically and colorfully than men. But they are a phenomenon of gender rather than a biological consequence. Amos (2012) proposes that the body language expressions of the sexes depend on their distinctive behaviors and purposes. Some are programmed and some are learned. Cameron (2007), however, disputes that these differences are only a myth. A study disproves the claim that these differences come from the unequal roles
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Gender and Counseling The past few years have seen significant advances in the field of counseling. Psychologists and psychiatrists have gained a better understanding of the human psyche. Based on their insights, they have been able to identify new problems and propose more effective methods of treatment. Many of the problems identified affect the mental health and role of men in society. This is a significant advance, since men's problems have previously
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