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Gender Communication and Language
In the "enlightened" age of the 21st century, it appears logical to assume that men and women are finally accepted as equally competent and intelligent, both in the workplace and social settings. It is therefore interestingly shocking that communication studies reveal wide-ranging differences in the way in which men and women communicate. Many of these communication styles date from social systems where women were seen as incompetent and weak, whereas men were the competent, eloquent sector of society. While society consciously accepts that gender differences do not extend to the mental faculties of the average man or women, these assumed differences still operate very much on a subconscious level. This view is explored by examining a variety of communicative settings, including workplace, social and online communication.
According to a report by Vanfossen, women in formal group, meetings tend to display a subordinate disposition in relation to men. Men for example gain the floor more easily than do women, and keep the floor for longer. Furthermore...
Interruptions from women also tend to be directed towards women speakers rather than men, while men in general interrupt more often than women.
In informal settings on the other hand, where there is a collaborative effort of participants, women tend to display a fuller range of language ability (Vanfossen). Communicatively, women thus function better in a setting where the assumed gender roles are less individualistic and more collaborative. In informal, social settings the same tendency as in the workplace is evident. Men tend to talk longer than women, even when they are at the same level of expertise as women. Also, men initiate interaction on a more regular basis than women.
Vanfossen further finds that, while women are generally expected to be less competent and assertive than men, this expectation is altered when women are known to occupy positions of power. It is thus possible to cultivate an awareness of language use and to alter the perceptions bred over centuries of oppression. This will however take time,…
Bibliography
Athenstaedt, Ursula. "Gender role self-concept and gender-typed communication behavior in mixed-sex and same-sex dyads." In Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, January, 2004.
Vanfossen, Beth. "Gender Differences in Communication." Institute for Teaching and Research on Women, Towson University, 1996. http://pages.towson.edu/itrow/wmcomm.htm
We, Gladys. "Cross-Gender Communication in Cyberspace." Department of Communication, Simon Fraser University, 1993. http://eserver.org/feminism/cross-gender-comm.txt
Men tend to talk more than women do and have habit of talking over them or interrupting them when they are speaking. In the nonverbal sense, some the differences from men and women are the majority of men do not interpret body language, a nod from a woman means to a man that she agrees with what he is saying and that she is listening to what he is saying.
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