Male/Female Communication Styles
Table of Contents
- Introduction. 2
- Communication Styles between Men and Women Review.. 2
- Research on Communication Styles of Gender 5
Research shows that there is a different in the manner men and women communicate with each other as well as with themselves. Specifically, it is seen that men are much more direct when talking than women. On the other hand, women tend to use indirect methods to interact more so those that are in leadership positions. This paper looks to assess the contract that exists in communication styles between men and women. In this study, the differences in communication between men and women are assessed in undergraduate students at mid-western university. The results were videotaped and were asked to undertake a group task. In the sessions, precise communication tendencies were coded to know if there are communication differences in genders. The outcome were discussed in regard to literature and its applicability to college students. The outcome of the research showed that communication styles of men and women are similar as it were long time ago.
Male/Female Communication Styles
Men and women are different in a number of ways. This is seen in the way we look, behave and communicate. This may at times lead to conflict in comprehension of things. For communication to be effective, both genders have to be aware of the differences between their communication styles. This research paper looks to discuss the varied communication styles between male and female and the impact that arises from them.
In today’s world, communication is a vital aspect to every individual, of significance is to get what is being put forth. There are varied communications styles that are taken up by male and female genders. The first communication is reliant on the type of communication (Tannen, 1990). The second one is reliant on the style of communication. Thirdly, the setting one is in affects the advancement of communication with other individuals. On the other hand, according to Samuel Johnson, nature has accorded women a great amount of power which is inverse to what the law accords them.
2. Communication Styles between Men and Women Review
Social researchers state that gender does not affect the advancement of communication styles. The brain is created in a way that models the varied styles of communication. The brain is made up of two sections: feminine and masculine. The hormones in the human boy bring about the contrast. There are individuals that have feminine brains and are known to be successful managers as they are keen in listening. On the other hand, masculine brains are more aligned to work that is physical, mathematics and sciences. However, there are cases of female with masculine brains which gives them the ability to work in physical areas.
According to Anne Meier (1999, 116), there are several stereotypes in how men and women communicate of this the most basic one is talking. The most prevalent notion is that women talk more than men. Additionally, women are believed to engage in ‘empty talk’ based on irrelevant or minute issues. Considering speech from women is an unassertive and does not have any influence, men’s speech is seen as bold and assertive. Both gender’s communication style portray a wide range of things. On the whole, women discuss more about what they feel in comparison to men. This tends to be common to every person irrespective they are men or women. Women who engage in conversation with the same gender talk about personal issues, relationships, health and reproduction. On the other hand, men talk about music, sports, business and other people of the same gender.
Men tend to control most of the conversations and this may encompass direct and quick methods to make their point. This is common when the female gender is the other party. Similarly, women tend to use linguistic methods that may be attributed as being less authoritative and hence no power behind it. this may comprise compound request that are polite, indirect, that make the message appear tentative and tags connected to statements, making them weak (Meier, 1999).
When characterizing the communication style that women have, it attributes are in the relation that people have and feeling acquired; the style that portray their feelings, support and comprehension and is personal and context based (Rawluszko, 2009). Women have the common attribute of being emotional. They are intimate, sensitive and fond of sharing things. They tend to get involved in things and acquire the need to get others involved in their discussions. Women make use of their closeness in relationships and use feelings to model what they end up to be. The male gender on the other hand tend to be direct, autonomous and task-based. The communication of men comprises of authoritative aspects, while discussions men use a lot of space and time. They are common in cutting the talk of other people with the aim of maintaining their personal status (Rawluszko, 2009).
Communication can similarly be portrayed non-verbally between male and female. Women like to communicate side by side while men ought to use the face-to-face method. Women show their emotions, smile and laugh a lot while communicating. They use more of eye contact when compared to men. Women are known to be perceptive in this form of communication. They tend to read facial expressions and body movements at a much better level when compared to men. There is great difference in proxemics; application of space. Women are known to approach others closely, men are the complete opposite. Men tend to keep their distance and control more territory than women. Men tend to lean on objects; wall, or tables, pass gestures with wide knees, pace and more than often less restrained (Meier, 1999).
In a work setting, communication is a source of gender-based differences (Weinstein, 2006). It is due to this differences that the communication styles of the opposite sex are at times misconceived. They may end up with encounters and misunderstanding in the work setting. Both male and female cultures have some codes of behaviour and standards that are not well understood by the other gender (Weinstein, 2006).
The main differences between the male and female gender and the style that they communicate lies down to the fact that the two see conversation in a different way. Research shows that psychological gender contrast has revealed that women tend to use communication as a way of developing their social attachment while men use it to instil dominance and get rigid results. Men and similarly vary in how they associate with others; women being more social with others, men tend to be independent.
A book by John Gray, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: a practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in a Relationship, he states the contrast in communication styles by gender (John, 1992). His book is among the leading platforms of literature in communication from one gender to another in the twentieth century. He goes on to state that men and women are different in the way they communicate that they appear as though they are from different planets; their needs and objectives vary in how they interact. If one is able to know these differences, they are then able to create and maintain an effective association by being conscious of the manner gender communicate and hence adapt to the style effectively.
The main contrast according to Gray is the communication styles of both gender as shown; men are known to be goal-based, their sense of self is described through getting an outcome. Women on the other hand, relationship based since their sense of self are described by what they feel as well as the quality of relationships (John, 1992). The two genders handle stress in a different way; men tend to manage stress by pulling themselves out while women manage it by talking (Weinstein, 2006). Gray used the phrase, ‘Men go their caves and women talk’ to define the contrast in managing stress by the genders. On the whole, men desire to be accorded the feel of desire, valued and admired while women search for a sense of respect and devoted. Similarly, men and women vary in their communication styles in times of crisis or a mutual end. The most notable communicative issue that is seen in the two gender happens when they discuss and solve conflict. As they aim to resolve an issue, men tend to use their natural aspect to manage an issue while women look to empathize and comprehend may offer a solution. These natural attributes portrayed by both male and female present a divide when communicating as they handle communication in totally different way.
Just like John Gray, Deborah Tannen is popular for his studies in communication styles between male and female. Tannen’s (1990) book, You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation discusses on the differences between communication styles in gender. Her research showed that gender begins while one is young and develops with time. Tannen’s studies revealed that young boys create connections with each other by undertaking activities with each other. On the other hand, girls establish close relationships by talking. Talk is seen as an essence of intimacy. Tannen goes on to analysis the difference between men and women ta the primary level, women’s use of language when interacting is basically for rapport: a way of setting up and managing relationships. While for men, talk is basically a mode through which autonomy and negotiation and status is met in a social aspect. Men use communication as a mode through which advice is given and pass information, while women look to preserve interaction and acquire control and understanding. Additionally, Tannen (1990) described men as being confrontational and women as synergistic.
Workplaces like services jobs that depend on the aspect of communication with clients, communication skills are very vital. Hence women are bound to be hired in such positions due to their ability to communicate (Weinstein, 2006). Men on the other hand are supposed to prove they are able to handle such positions as opposed to women that have this skills in them.
Research on the communication styles between male and female has revealed that they vary in communication attributes. Two bodies of research on gender contrast in communication styles agree on the contrast of communication. Academic research shows more of communication features common in both male and female, popular literature shows the connection in psychological gender aspects and communication styles in objectives of interaction. Moreover, popular literature shows common issues in men and women that arise while communicating with the relative other. It focusses on gender contrast in crisis communication.
3. Research on Communication Styles of Gender
3.1. Purpose
The study aims to analyze the communication styles between male and female. Research has shown that women tend to portray indirect communication tendencies while men have direct communication with an aspect of dominance. Studies done the past are quite relevant and with regard to the findings, different outcomes are acquired.
3.2. Method
3.2.1. Participants
The participants are 18 undergraduate students; 11 women and 7 men from a mid-western university. The students are of Caucasian origin and were divided into four groups with around four students. The participants were recruited with help of a script. All were issued with $5 gift cards.
3.2.2. Materials
The NASA Moonwalk process was applied by the groups. The process calls for the groups to have an agreement in ranking 15 items (matches, oxygen tanks and raft) in the right order they are necessary for use in the moon. The students were recorded in a video.
3.2.3. Procedure
The participants were informed of the objective of the study as they aimed to complete the task. After allocating the scripts and the exercise, the participants read the questions and answered them. They had 20 minutes to do the task though it was 12 minutes. The leader for each group was chosen with no regard to any process and tasked with keeping every one focused. Once the activity was done, the students were issued with gift cards as an appreciation.
3.3. Results
The videos were coded for the groups. Directness was analyzed through declarative statements (‘yes’ was not used) while indirect communication was analyzed with the help of questioning statements. The inter-reliabilities were computed getting 0.693 for declarative statements, and 0.931 for questioning statements.
To manage the differences in all of the statements by the participants, the raw values for dependent variables were divided by the number of statements used for the each student. Sex ration was used as the difference for gender with the help of ANOVA. Men (mean = 0.718, SEM = 0.090) that had more declarative statements than women (mean= 0.374, SEM= 0.86). The question statements had no major differences.
3.4. Discussion
The results issue backing to gender differences in direct communication style. Women are note to be more indirect when communicating compare to men. Research shows that women tend to use more questions as they converse than men and less of declarative tags. This shows that with no regard to changes in the society in rights to women, communication contrast between them is huge and has not changed with time. Men are dominant and direct in their conversations. The research has shown that women are less confident. This shows that communication styles between men and women are great both in the body language and in the way they communicate with their mouths.
Academic research show that women are bound to use speech that is not powerful; they do not swear, use polite language. Women, compared to men, do not interrupt in conversations. This can be attribute to their low status in the current world. This can be regarded to societal behaviour that instill gender status standards. Pearson shows that women make use of weak statements which can be regarded to their low confidence in communication and fear of getting on the wrong side. This plays more in a working setting with male managers (Weinstein, 2006). Research shows that women are more emotional than men. Theorists have stated that gender contrast in the way communication is used places women at an extreme disadvantage when talking to others as they do it timidly in comparison to men. Men on the other hand speak more with power and authority hence able to be leaders. Most of these gender contrast in communication styles gives women a raw deal in comparison to men. This is since they take up the second role giving them the unfit tag in leadership roles.
Men are considered to live in a world where communication is a chance for dominance, while women live in one where the objection of interaction is to set up relationships. Men are seen to avoid failure and being bossed around by others as they see as being on the losing end. Women look to avoid being alone and are not threatened by taking orders from someone. This appears as a sign of connection and intimacy. Considering men look to have control on other people, women look to be well understood, desire equality and value as it is a sign of attachment with them.
The main point that men and women differ according to Tannen is in the discussion about conflict. While women discuss about issues they face, with other women to set up a connection, they expect men to respond similarly (Tannen, 1990). However, men appear to quickly offer ways to manage issues raised by clients. This has a great impact on the way men and women communicate at the work place, in addition to women appearing as better communicators.
Research shows that communication styles in men and women is great both in how they talk and how they carry out themselves. These differences have varied implications in how they interact with each other at work and positions of leaderships. Stereotypes are however common with regard to these issues. The study by students between male and female shows the differences that exists. Direct and indirect communication portray this contrast. Women are better in communication and use emotions and tentative attributes. On the other hand, men are known to be authoritative and focused in finding solutions to issues. The research has been able to show this. However, their relations show that men interrupt conversations and women are submissive and understanding hence able to handle clients.
The current study focused on the gendered communication styles and the implication that arise. There are however several issues that lie in the difference in communication between men and women. Future research may opt to focus on how the communication between men and women has changed over time. This is since the modern women has become more dominant and may engage in direct communication while mine has begun to accept the new communication by the women. This is however dependent on the setting and culture of the gender.
References
John, G. (1992). Men are from mars, women are from Venus: The classic guide to understanding the opposite sex. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publisher.
Meier, A. E. (1999). Gender and communication. English Quarterly, 31 (3/4), pp. 115-119. Retrieved on 25th September 2013 from CBCA Complete.
Rawluszko, M. (2009). Communication in the conditions of diversity. Kobieta i Bizness, 1-4, pp. 53-56. Retrieved on 25th September 2013 from ProQuest Central.
Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation.
Ballantine Books, New York
Weinstein, M. (2006). The differences between boys and girls…at the office. Training, 43 (11), p. 8. Retrieved on 25th September 2013 from ABI/INFORM Global.
Jermaine Byrant
Nicole Johnson
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