Gendered Verbal Communication Chapter 5 Expresses Cultural Views
Gendered Verbal Communication Chapter 5
Expresses Cultural Views of Gender �Language is most complex symbol system �Language reflects and reinforces cultural views and values
Male Generic Language �Male generic language erases women �Research shows generic language leads many to assume only males included
Male Generic Language �Evidence male language not perceived as generic �Major dictionaries and newspapers now avoid it �Writing manuals caution against its use
Male Generic Language �For tips on how to use inclusive language: ◦ http: //www. marquette. edu/wac/ neutral/Neutral. Inclusive. Languag e. shtml
Male Generic Language �Discourage spotlighting ◦ Highlighting a person’s sex �Lady doctor
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Women defined by appearance or relationship with others �Men defined by activities or positions
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Coverage of women’s sports ◦ Focuses more on women’s appearance than skill �Coverage of rape or abuse ◦ Irrelevant descriptions of victims
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Language reflects social views of women as passive and men as active in terms of sexual activity ◦ Men expected to initiate �Language makes that seem acceptable
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Language reflects view women defined by relationship with others ◦ News includes personal information about women ◦ On TV, women depicted in interpersonal contexts
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �In past, American unmarried women called spinsters or old maids �In Mexico – me vale madre �In Japan - leftover, underdog, parasite single
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Alternatives to traditional ways of naming ourselves: ◦ Some women choose to retain birth name when marry ◦ Some men and women adopt hyphenated names
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Alternatives to traditional ways of naming ourselves: ◦ Some countries use both mother’s and father’s family names
Language Defines Men & Women Differently �Alternatives to traditional ways of naming ourselves: ◦ Renaming to reflect matriarchal lineage �Still reflects male lineage – mother’s father
Language Shapes Awareness �Naming is important �Previously sexual harassment not named ◦ Not visible, making difficult to stop ◦ When coined public recognized as unwanted behavior
Language Shapes Awareness �Women raped on date had no way of naming ◦ Now, with date rape, women have language to deal with violation
Language Shapes Awareness �Language not static �Change language to change understandings ◦ We reject terms ◦ We create new ones �As modify language, we change our world
Language Organizes Perceptions �Stereotype is generalization about entire class of phenomena �Relying on stereotypes lead us to overlook important qualities of people
Language Organizes Perceptions Women: emotional and weak Men: rational and strong
Language Organizes Perceptions �Women who use assertive speech described as rude �Men who employ emotional language described as wimps
Language Organizes Perceptions �English language encourages polarized thinking ◦ Conceiving of things as absolute opposites �Queer performative theory challenges polarized language
Language Evaluates Gender �Language reflects cultural values �Powerful influence on perceptions
Language Evaluates Gender �Language devalues females by trivializing women: ◦ Immature, juvenile ◦ Equate with food, animals ◦ Diminutive suffixes
Language Evaluates Gender �Language devalues females by trivializing women: ◦ Calling women girls ◦ Sexually active called derogatory names
Language Allows Self -Reflection �Name and evaluate ourselves �Reflect on ourselves from society’s perspective ◦ Live in a celebrity culture �Tempting to compare ourselves
Language Allows Self -Reflection �Alternative to sex-typing is androgyny �Androgynous people possess masculine and feminine qualities
Language Allows Self -Reflection �Androgynous people: ◦ Communicate in range of ways – flexible ◦ Higher self-esteem – better adjusted ◦ More effective in workplace ◦ Happier marriages
Gendered Styles of Verbal Comm. �Language - primary means to express gendered identities �Gendered styles, not sex-based styles �Some perform genders other than two conventionally recognized
Gendered Speech Communities �Langer – culture possible only to extent people share symbol system �Consistent with symbolic interactionist and cultural theories
Gendered Speech Communities �Labov – speech community = group of people who share communication norms �Less apparent when use language in different ways
Gendered Speech Communities �Males and females socialized into different speech communities �Discussing general differences and not absolute ones
The Lessons of Children’s Play Sex- segregated groups remain norm for children in U. S.
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Children as young as 2 -3 show preference for same-sex playmates
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Boys’ games: ◦ Large groups ◦ Competitive ◦ Clear goals ◦ Rough play ◦ Organized by rules and roles
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Boys’ communication rules: ◦ Use communication to assert ideas ◦ Use talk to achieve something ◦ Use communication to attract attention ◦ Use communication to compete for talk stage
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Girls’ games: ◦ Pairs or small groups ◦ No preset goals and roles ◦ Not highly structured ◦ Spend more time talking
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Girls’ communication rules: ◦ Use communication to create relationships ◦ Use communication to establish egalitarian relationships
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Girls’ communication rules: ◦ Use communication to include others ◦ Use communication to show sensitivity
The Lessons of Children’s Play �Girls engage in more cooperative play �Boys engage in more instrumental and competitive play �Communication rules for men and women versions of those learned in childhood
Feminine Speech �People socialized in feminine speech communities use language to foster connections �Establishing equality important ◦ Match experiences for symmetry ◦ Interactive pattern
Feminine Speech �Support for others ◦ Express emotion ◦ Attention to relationship level ◦ Intensive adverbs ◦ Questions probe for understanding
Feminine Speech �Conversational maintenance work ◦ Efforts to sustain conversation ◦ Maintains interaction ◦ Opens door to others
Feminine Speech �Responsiveness ◦ Eye contact, nod, tell me more ◦ Affirms other person �Encourages elaboration
Feminine Speech �Personal, concrete style ◦ Details ◦ Personal disclosures ◦ Anecdotes ◦ Concrete reasoning ◦ Cultivate personal tone
Feminine Speech �Tentativeness ◦ Verbal hedges ◦ Qualify statements ◦ Tag questions �Seen as representing powerlessness �However, reflect desire to keep conversation open
Masculine Speech �Masculine speech communities regard talk as way to: ◦ Accomplish concrete goals ◦ Exert control ◦ Preserve independence ◦ Entertain ◦ Enhance status
Masculine Speech �Effort to establish status and control ◦ Asserting ideas and authority ◦ Telling jokes ◦ Challenging others ◦ More I-references ◦ Avoid disclosing information ◦ Give advice
Masculine Speech �Instrumentality ◦ Problem-solving efforts �Women feel men don’t care about feelings �Men think supporting woman by suggesting solution
Masculine Speech �Conversational command ◦ Talk more often – greater length ◦ Reroute conversations ◦ Interrupt more frequently
Masculine Speech �Direct and assertive ◦ More forceful and authoritative ◦ Tentative forms used less frequently
Masculine Speech �More abstract ◦ General terms ◦ Distanced from personal feelings
Masculine Speech �Less emotionally responsive ◦ Minimal response cues �May be perceived as lack of involvement ◦ Lack of self-disclosure, expressed sympathy �May be seen as vulnerable
Gender-Based Misinterpretations Showing support Troubles talk
Gender-Based Misinterpretations �The point of the story �Relationship talk �Public speaking
Gender-Based Misinterpretations �Many can improve relationships by understanding and using both feminine and masculine communication styles �Less likely to misread motives
Gender-Based Misinterpretations �Become more gratifying conversational partners �Enhance quality of relationships
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