Genderlect theory
Genderlect theory, developed by linguist Deborah Tannen, posits that men and women communicate differently, each with distinct styles and purposes. Tannen argues that these differences are not hierarchical; rather, they reflect unique approaches to communication, with women often using language as a means for building relationships and men employing it to assert independence and status. For instance, in conversations, boys may compete to convey superiority, while girls might emphasize common experiences to foster connection. This theory identifies two main communication styles: "report" talk favored by men, which is direct and assertive, and "rapport" talk preferred by women, which is more emotional and personal.
Although the theory aims to enhance understanding and reduce misunderstandings in inter-gender interactions, it has faced criticism for generalizing gender communication styles and not accounting for factors like socioeconomic status, age, and non-binary identities. Overall, Genderlect theory serves as a framework for recognizing and appreciating the diverse ways individuals communicate based on their gender, with the ultimate goal of promoting mutual respect.
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Genderlect theory
Genderlect theory is a communications theory that states that men and women communicate in different ways and for different purposes. Neither method of communication is better or worse than the other; they are merely different. It states further that recognizing the differences in the ways that men and women communicate can help support better interactions and prevent misunderstandings.
Background
The genderlect theory was developed by Deborah Tannen, an American linguistics professor with a special interest in how people communicate in daily life. Tannen has published a number of books and articles that explain and illustrate communication differences between genders. You Just Don't Understand: Men and Women in Conversation, published in 1990, brought wide public attention to Tannen's theory. The book became a best seller and was reprinted in thirty-one languages.
Tannen was not the first person to propose that there are differences in how men and women communicate. Researchers have studied differences in communication style for decades and have noted them for far longer. For example, researchers have reported that women are often better listeners and better at understanding nonverbal cues, while men tend to communicate in a direct, to-the-point manner. These differences affect not only how the genders communicate when they are speaking but also how they perceive the communications of others. Tannen expanded on these theories and coined the term genderlect.
The word gender comes from the Latin genus, where it originally meant "birth," "nation," or "family." In fourteenth-century France, the word was used to mean "type" or "species." Its root in the Latin gene-, as in the genes that determine heredity, led to it being associated with a person's sex. The word gender is often used in place of sex in contexts in which it relates to an individual's sexual identity. The ending –lect was used because Tannen considers genderlect to be a dialect (from the Greek dialektos, or way of speaking). A dialect is a way of speaking that is unique to the inhabitants of a particular area or members of a certain group.
Overview
The genderlect theory states that men and women have different purposes in communicating and different styles of accomplishing their purposes. Even when they are speaking the same language, men and women use that language in different ways. Tannen proposed her theory as a way to help people understand these differences and to incorporate that understanding into their inter-gender communications.
According to Tannen, women see communication as a relationship-building tool, while men communicate to show strength, independence, and make a good impression. In other words, men see communication as a way to establish and enhance stature, while women use it as a tool to connect with other individuals. Tannen says this is the case even when the communications seem to be the same.
For instance, two groups of young children are engaged in conversation. One group is all boys, the other is all girls. Both groups are discussing a trip to the ice cream store. One boy says, "I had two big scoops." The second boy says, "I had three giant scoops." The third boy says, "I had too many to count," to which the others reply, "Wow." According to Tannen, the boys are competing and upping the ante over what was said before—even if they all had the small children's cone—because they are attempting to gain superiority over one another. Three girls, on the other hand, might have the same conversation but end it with, "We all had ice cream." According to Tannen's theory, the girls are attempting to create a bond between them by emphasizing through their communication the ways they are the same.
The ways the genders communicate also differ in style, according to the theory. Men joke and tell stories that help establish their position, and are often more direct in their communications, while women share personal stories and express emotion while sharing. The theory states that men use "report" talk, while women use "rapport" talk. This ties in to the different purposes for which each gender uses communication.
The genderlect theory also proposes that although they are using the same language, men and women favor different parts of the language. Each gender tends to choose certain types of words and to talk about different topics. For example, women are more likely to use words that convey empathy because this supports their emphasis on relationships, while men are more likely to be direct and focused on results.
These differences can easily lead to misunderstandings in workplaces and other environments, according to the theory, in that supervisors may unknowingly exhibit gendered approaches to management. For instance, a female supervisor might say, "I know you are busy, but would you copy this memo," in speaking to someone who reports to her. A male supervisor is more likely to say, "This needs to be copied." The theory says a male hearing the female supervisor might view her apologetic tone as weakness, while she sees it as empathy. Conversely, a female hearing the male supervisor may think he is gruff or rude, while he sees it as directness.
The genderlect theory attempts to foster understanding that leads to mutual respect. It does not judge either of the methods of communicating. Instead, it identifies and explains them with a goal of helping people acknowledge and understand them and apply that to interactions with the opposite gender.
While the theory attracted much interest from the general public, not all linguistic experts agree with the theory. Some note that it deals in generalizations, which can be misleading. It also includes all females and all males in its very broad groups. Some experts note it does not address situations of inequality, such as communication between people of different financial status or age, or interactions between people in authority and those expected to yield to that authority. It also does not address individuals who do not identify with a binary gender.
Bibliography
Burggraf Torppa, Cynthia. "Gender Issues: Communication Differences in Interpersonal Relationships." Ohio State University,25 Feb. 2010, ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/FLM-FS-4-02-R10. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
"Deborah Tannen: Bio." DeborahTannen.com, www.deborahtannen.com/projects/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
"Deborah Tannen: General Audience Articles." DeborahTannen.com, www.deborahtannen.com/general-audience-articles/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Freed, Alice F. "We Understand Perfectly: A Critique of Tannen's View of Cross-Sex Communication." Montclair State University, 1992, www.montclair.edu//media/montclairedu/chss/departments/linguistics/Tannen-Review-Berk92.pdf. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
"Genderlect." ChangingMinds.org, changingminds.org/explanations/gender/genderlect.htm. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
"Genderlect Styles." Oregon State University, oregonstate.edu/instruct/comm321/gwalker/Culture-Gender.htm. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Gorman, Carol Kinsey. "Is Your Communication Style Dictated by Your Gender?" Forbes, 31 Mar. 2016, www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2016/03/31/is-your-communication-style-dictated-by-your-gender/#4f259e5deb9d. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Tannen, Deborah. "He Said, She Said." Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2012, www.scientificamerican.com/article/he-said-she-said-2012-10-23/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Tannen, Deborah. "A Linguist Breaks Down What We Really Mean When We Call Our Friends Close." The Cut, 2 May 2017, www.thecut.com/2017/05/a-linguist-explains-what-close-friend-really-means.html. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Tannen, Deborah. You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. William Morrow & Co., 1990.