Self-Analysis Options: Gender Differences

The treatment of genders in language (How do genders communicate in within a hair salon environment): Male vs female (especially in a female driven setting? female and female? Could also discuss how the treatment of language is between Landis (the heterosexual male salon owner) and his female employees.

Number of researches has been ambiguous regarding the query “how sex differences influence on communication”. A bulk of literature presents that a number of factors affects communication. Any differences from small to moderate have a great impact on communication. On the other hand, several researchers concluded that there are no differences in male and females athletes in any aspect.

The frequency of communication is also same in both male and female. Number of researches proved that there no differences in male and female communication. This statement is quiet controversial as few theories suggest that any difference in culture, mind status, religion, beliefs, concept highly influence communication. Male and female speech is quiet different because of their thoughts, culture, environment etc. Stereotyping is very common in females while men do not stereotype as females. Treatment of genders in language varies from gender to gender. When there are females, they usually communicate in friendly environment, they use lingo phrases etc same in case of male versus male communication. When there are both male and female in a formal environment, they usually communicate having courtesy in mind in order to avoid any unpleasant gesture. In a hair saloon I observed that gender communication is formal as mostly are strangers to each other. They communicate with courtesy and in low pitch. Personality and environment is two ingredients which influence a lot on communication. In a female driven setting, women may tend to ask question more freely, men may be less truthful in such environment. Here, stereotyping affects a lot as women make their perception by following Halo Effect. Usually, female vs. female communication is more successful as they experience same things as other women do and vice versa. While in male versus female communication needs courtesy and alertness in mind for successful communication. In hair saloon I observed that females were communicating easily and asking for extra services easily while men were facing few difficulties in this vein. If there is a female landlord, her tone is different with female employees as she knows the difficulties and problem female faces at workplace. If an owner is male and all staff is female, owner will lead the team without discussion even every one hates it. In case of female owner she uses consensus based style for decision style. Its nature, there are individuals who poses the traits gender attribute. Women are more relationship oriented and always find new ways to attract other women. In hair saloon, both female versus female and male versus male communication was also successful but male and female communication needs courtesy and alertness in it. In hair saloon, I observed Male and female communication styles are also different as they face different situation at workplace, their values and mental approach highly influence in communication. Men usually communicate to give information and women usually communicate to gain or rapport information. Men are usually assertive and women are mostly co-operative. Men want to think while women prefer to feel.

Gender differences in verbal and nonverbal communication; and for students to be able to identify specific ways that gender influences how they communicate in their relationships and in society as a whole.

Communication is a way how individuals interact with each other. Different communication styles are adopted by both sexes in different cultures. Females adopt an expressive and sharing communication style while males adopt dominating and assertive. Non-verbal communication is a way of interacting and exchanging messages without the use of verbal language. Non-verbal communication identifies a person’s sex, thought and gender inclination.

“Kramer (1977), in a study of stereotypical beliefs about verbal gender differences, found some beliefs about gender differences in nonverbal behaviors as well. Women were believed to smile more than men, to use the face and hands to express ideas more than men, and to be more concerned about the listener. Men were believed to be louder but less talkative than women” (Briton & Hall, 1995).

Females’ style of communication is socially-oriented, while males communicate to the point and results oriented. As men are mostly task-oriented they focus on their work, and their speech is aggressive, dominant and loud. While females speak in low voice and talk a lot about in general topic. They are mostly emotional, very sensitive and gentle. During my hair Salon stay I noticed their communication is very humble and caring, and they also keep on giving more suggestions on hairstyle though not asked. They also present gossipy communication and passive. Men and women interpersonal communication vary both in verbal and non-verbal aspects. They are more talkative, however, better listener too. They are more sensitive to each issue and understand other person’s feeling and emotionally more expressive in their speech than do men. Women use different facial expressions for communication then do men. They would smile and show love to show affection while totally different facial expression for the one they “hate” or want to ignore. They show their emotions and sensitive attitude in their speech. They are more responsive and sensitive to other person’s speech. They usually expressed their emotions with facial expressions. Women often use their hands too in expressing their ideas a lot more times then men do. Women non-verbal expressions and behavior vary a lot from men.

Men consider facial expressions of their emotions as unimportant while for woman it’s very important and worthy. Women are mostly more smiling, laughing, making gossips and sensitive. They do convey their messages very well with facial expressions. Non-verbal communication of emotion is unimportant for men while very important for woman’s expression of emotion. However, such expression is expected from woman’s behavior. They do also recognize such non-verbal expressions easily.

“Interpersonal communication consists of both a verbal component and nonverbal cues. Gender differences are believed to exist for both communication components. Women and girls are commonly believed to out-perform men and boys in tests of verbal ability by a wide margin. In fact, only small gender differences have been found for cognitive abilities, including mathematics and verbal skills. These gender differences are commonly believed to be much larger than they actually are, and within-gender differences are minimized or ignored (Baumeister, 1988 & Feingold, 1988)” (Briton & Hall, 1995).

In verbal communication women talk a lot about other women, their dressing, makeup, hairstyle, popular woman celebrity, and all other things related with females. Sometimes gossiping and telling stories of other women. Their discussions are mostly focused on other women’s life stories. Men and women way of interaction and communication varies a lot.

References

Kramer, C. (1977). Perceptions of male and female speech. Language and Speech, 20, 151-161.

Baumeister, R. F. (1988). Should we stop studying sex differences altogether? American Psychologist, 43, 1092-1

Feingold, A. (1988). Cognitive gender differences are disappearing. American Psychologist, 43, 95-103.

Briton, N.J & Hall, J.A (1995) Beliefs about female and male nonverbal communication. Sex Roles : A Journal of Research

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