The Difference Model
This section of the gender and communication PDF focuses on Deborah Tannen's theory of gender differences in communication. Tannen identifies six key contrasts between male and female communication styles, providing examples of gender differences in communication.
Highlight: Deborah Tannen's six contrasts in male and female communication:
- Advice vs Understanding
- Conflict vs Compromise
- Independence vs Intimacy
- Information vs Feelings
- Orders vs Proposals
- Status vs Support
These contrasts illustrate how men and women approach communication differently, often leading to misunderstandings in gender communication examples. For instance, men tend to offer advice to solve problems, while women seek understanding and emotional support.
Example: In the workplace, a male colleague might suggest solutions to a problem, while a female colleague might prefer to discuss the emotional impact of the situation first.
The document also mentions other researchers' findings on gender differences in communication:
- Coates observes that all-male conversations are competitive, while all-female conversations are cooperative.
- Tannen notes that male talk is report-oriented (focused on facts), while female talk is rapport-oriented (aimed at maintaining friendships).
- Cameron discusses "bitching" as a part of female talk, suggesting it's a form of covertly dominant behavior.
- Pilkington characterizes male house talk by the use of insults.
- Howe identifies different roles in conversation: men as active participants and women as active listeners.
Vocabulary: Backchannel - Verbal or non-verbal responses (e.g., "uh-huh," nodding) that show active listening without interrupting the speaker.
The section concludes with Hyde's Gender Similarity Hypothesis, which proposes that there are more similarities than differences between genders in communication.
Quote: "There are more similarities between the genders than there are differences" - Hyde's Gender Similarity Hypothesis
This comprehensive overview provides valuable insights into gender differences in communication in the workplace and other social contexts, highlighting the complexity of gender-based communication patterns.
