COM 203 minipaper
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COM203_Week14_Session1and2_Fall2017.pptxCOM 203: Introduction to Communication
Week 14, Day 1
1
Agenda
Discuss gender communication
Reminders:
Quiz 4 and Paper 4 due on Tuesday, 12/12
Paper options are Weeks 11-14, Ch. 13, 14, and reading on gender communication
Final exam is 12/21 at 10am; cumulative; review sheet on Blackboard
Sex vs. Gender
Sex is a biological category
Gender is a social construction
Influences expectations and perceptions of “women” and “men”
Roles and opportunities for “women” and “men”
Learning about femininity and masculinity
We enact gender; we use communication to express gender
Femininity and Masculinity
Femininity
Wear make-up
Bend over by bending knees
Smile
Drop eyes if another stares
Share feelings
Show interest in others
Be nice to others
Masculinity
Keep distance from other men
Bend over by bending at the waist
Don’t smile often
Hold eye contact if another stares at you
Do not talk a lot about feelings
Show confidence and control
Impress others
Communication Between Genders
“We try to talk to each other honestly, but it seems at times that we are speaking different languages.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGoC8FTLKSI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ MC3XuMvsDI&list=PLtmzpP-YKbLsAddbZVJD511kZfktUP-qO
https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=icvtrrFD-80
Genderelect – A term suggesting that masculine and feminine styles of discuss are best viewed as two distinct dialects
Feminine Communication
Disclose personal information with others
Create equality between people
Offer substantial support to others
Conversational maintenance
Respond nonverbally
Concrete descriptions
Tentative
Masculine Communication
Control or effort to control
Accomplish objectives
Direct and assertive
Abstract
Dominance
Restrict emotionally
Differences in Rapport versus Report Talk
Rapport talk – typical conversation style of femininity, which seeks to establish connection with others
Report talk – typical monologic style of masculinity, which seeks to commend attention, convey information and win arguments
The Male Deficit Model
Society views women as interpersonally sensitive
Assume their ways of forming relationships the right way
Claim men’s styles of building relationships is inadequate – male deficit model
Assumption of model is personal talk is hallmark of intimacy
Women self-disclose more
Women more intimate than men
Led to judgments men deficient
Men advised to overcome deficiencies
Much sentiment still holds men are deficient in ability to express emotion
Researchers began to question this assumption
9
The Alternate Paths Model
Alternate paths model - gendered socialization root of differences in styles of relating
Does not presume masculine people lack feelings
Suggests socialization constrains men’s comfort in expressing
Masculine people do express closeness, but not in same way feminine people do
Both masculine and feminine styles equally valid
The Alternate Paths Model
Men develop closeness in the doing
Engaging in activities is an alternate way to express intimacy
Talking about problems less effective than diversionary activities
The Alternate Paths Model
Gender of person needing support may be as important as gender of person offering support
Comforting messages may differ
Women engage in more comforting messages
Both genders more sensitive when comforting woman than men
Masculine individuals less often to express feelings in feminine ways and vice versa
Most effective communicators are bilingual
Gendered Power Dynamics
Historically, person who makes most money has the most power in heterosexual relationships
Belief men have more power often reflected in distribution of labor in home
Housework continues to be done by women
Even when women earn more than male partner
Belief of man as breadwinner does not match reality
Recession has put more men out of work
People who adhere to traditional views likely to experience decrease in self-esteem and marital satisfaction
Gendered Power Dynamics
Recession has propelled changes in men’s involvement in home life
Many men who are out of work have become stay-at-home dads
Women who work have a “second shift” caring for family at home
Consequences of “second shift”
Women stressed, fatigued, susceptible to illness
At disadvantage in paid work
Similar stress found in single fathers
Gendered Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal behaviors 65%+ of the total meaning of communication
Reminder: Nonverbal = all elements of communication other than words
Learned through interaction with others
Nonverbal communication related to gender and culture:
Expresses cultural meanings of gender
Men and women use to present themselves as gendered people
Artifacts
Personal objects that influence how see self and express identity
Parents send messages through toys give to sons and daughters
Boys given toys that invite competition, active play
Girls given toys that encourage nurturing, attention to appearance
Artifacts
In adult life, continue to reflect cultural views of masculinity and femininity
Men’s clothes not as colorful, more functional
Women’s clothes call attention to body, less functional
Meaning depends on cultural context
Artifacts
Advertisements for food, homemaking, child rearing feature women
Products associated with work, cars, sports feature men (or women in seductive poses)
Cosmetics industry multimillion dollar business
Some use artifacts to challenge existing perceptions
Men wear earrings
Women wear military boots
Proximity and Personal Space
Proxemics refers to use of space
Different cultures have different norms
Offer insight into power and status accorded to groups in society
Men have private spaces…“man cave”
Few women with families have private spaces
Territoriality
Personal space we don’t want others to invade
Not equally respected
People with power more likely to enter space of those with less power
Boss walking into employee’s office and sitting on desk
Men go into women’s spaces more than women enter men’s
Haptics (Touch)
Touch from adults communicates differently
Parents touch daughters more often and more gently
Women initiate touches that express support
Men use touch to assert power and express sexual interest
Women may perceive men’s touch as harassing
Gay and lesbians may not feel can touch in public
Kinesics (Facial and Body Motion)
Women’s movements signal they are approachable, friendly, unassuming
Men’s movements indicate they are reserved, in control
Kinesics (Facial and Body Motion)
Kinesics (Facial and Body Motion)
Men more likely to use movements aggressively
Women signal interest by sustaining eye contact
Men do not sustain eye contact during conversations
Except when challenge others
Physical Appearance
Men and women pressured to meet cultural ideals
Concern about appearance not as much of a problem for males
Men with concerns tend to focus on musculature
See how GI Joe has changed:
Interpreting Nonverbal Behavior
Women more skilled at interpreting nonverbals and identifying emotions
Women more adept at decoding emotions
BUT, men faster at noticing angry faces
Cultural Values: Gendered Nonverbal Behavior
Cultural beliefs not etched in stone
Can resist unequal views of agency and communality
Recognize different styles
Can choose not to embody gendered nonverbal style
What your thoughts?
What are your impressions about gender identity and communication?
What about gender identity for online profiles like LinkedIn, etc.?
Quiz 4 Review
Quiz 4 on 12/12
25 questions
Review sheet on Blackboard
Covers: Weeks 11-14; Ch. 13, 14 and readings on gender communication
Topics include: persuasion/social influence, health communication and gender communication
Next time….
Reminders:
Quiz 4 and Paper 4 due on Tuesday, 12/12
Paper options are Weeks 11-14, Ch. 13, 14, and reading on gender communication
Final exam is 12/21 at 10am; cumulative; review sheet on Blackboard
