Gendered Verbal Communication

1. Gendered Verbal Communication

2. Related Concepts speech communities standpoint discourse

3. Men’s and Women's Speech Communities Differ • different assumptions about communication • different goals • different strategies • different vocabularies **Typical, not essential characteristics (variation exceeds our generalizations, and remember, we’re talking gender, not sex)

4. BOYS large groups games structured by goals, rules, & roles lessons: communicate to assert yourself and achieve something communicate to attract and hold an audience, compete for the “talk stage” GIRLS small groups no preset, clear-cut goals, rules, & roles lessons: communicate collaboratively, cooperatively to create relationships avoid criticizing, putting down others—don’t exclude people pay attention to, interpret and respond to others’ feelings Gender Work: Socialization into speech communities through play

5. FEMININE talk is the essence of the relationship communication is a process of building relationships (expressive communication itself is the goal) detail-oriented and often non-linear stories MASCULINE talk is a way to exert control, preserve independence, enhance status focus on communication for a product: instrumental stories are spare and linear Gendered Speech Communities

6. Gendered Nonverbal Communication

7. Nonverbal communication is: • Primarily learned-- very few gender differences among children • Estimated to comprise 65% to 93% of total meaning of communication • Especially important in expressing relationship level of meaning (power, responsiveness, liking)

8. Nonverbal Communication:The Highlight-Reel • Proxemics – how space is structured and used • Kinesics – face and body motion • Paralanguage – volume, pitch, inflection, listening noises, rising terminals