For example, women are taught to collaborate, and affirm rather than subvert other people in conversation. But women can recognize that the need to speak up when provoked, if they are conscious of their conversational tendency. A woman whose idea is stolen by a male co-worker in an aggressive, male-dominated firm that praises competition cannot simply complain to her boss after the meeting where the co-worker claimed 'their' idea was 'his,' or assume that the truth will eventually be revealed about the theft. Likewise, a male who wishes to maintain a good relationship with a female boss can benefit from engaging in conversation that is not stereotypically 'facts' related (like baseball scores) but is more relational, such as inquiring about how the boss' day is going (Simon & Pedersen, 2005). Again, stereotyping is never valid, and if you meet someone who differs from these generalizations, or if you yourself do not conform to stereotypes, don't be alarmed! Rather, these observed distinctions, regardless of whether they are hard-wired into the brain or socially conditioned, can be a helpful way to understand how that 'difference' so celebrated by the French can also occasionally prove to be a communicative barrier.

Outline

INTRODUCTION:

A.

Attention Step: Quotation -- Vive the difference

B.

Rapport Step: Counsel to the listener -- how to avoid communication barriers

C.

Credibility Step: Take into consideration that no one likes stereotyping

D.

Preview Step: Explain purpose of informative...

feelings, status vs. identity, and competition vs. collaboration
BODY:

A.

Men are interested more in facts than feelings -- facts vs. feelings

Coming home from work example

Why miscommunication results

Transition: Rhetorical question -- why important?

B.

Status vs. Identity

1. How used in marketing

2. Different types of strategies appeal to different consumers based on gender.

Transition: Relate to viewer.)

C.

Men and women at work

1.

Competition vs. collaboration

2.

How to make knowledge of differences work at work

CONCLUSION:

A.

Cue:

Again, don't stereotype!

B.

Review:

Acknowledge that differences between genders is not a science

C.

Memorable Closing: return to notion of French 'difference'

Works Cited

Buchanan, Holly. "Male vs. female: Communication Styles." Marketing to Women.

2006. 8 Nov 2007. http://marketingtowomenonline.typepad.com/blog/2006/02/male_vs_female_.html

Tannen, Deborah. You Just Don't Understand. New York: Quill, 2007.

Simon, Victoria & Holly Pedersen. "Communicating with Men at Work: Bridging the Gap with Male Co-Workers and Employees." Male / Female Communication Newsletter. March 2005. 8 Nov 2007. http://www.itstime.com/print/mar2005p.htm