Considering a number of biological, evolutionary, social, and historical aspects, men and women tend to prove different psychological and behavioral patterns. Therefore, such a distinction reflects in the way men and women communicate and interact with one another led to the emergence of gender stereotypes. To begin with, the primary difference in the communication of both sexes implies that they consider conversational goals in different manners.
It is commonly believed that women use communication as an opportunity to improve their social networks, as well as build relationships. Men, on the other hand, use it as a way to demonstrate dominance and fulfill the targeted objectives. To be more specific, gender disparity in communicating involves key elements, such as vocabulary, volume, quantity, and body language. Females are perceived as good listeners that predominantly apply polite words in their language while discussing specific female topics, including kids, feelings, and clothes. However, women are also more inclined to gossip compared to male communicators.
It is generally accepted that males have assertive conversations on various topics, such as sports, politics, drinks, cars, careers, and world events. However, they are also more prone to use swear words in conversations. As described by Eklund et al., the stereotyped masculine features in communication, such as assertiveness and self-reliance, are commonly defined as “components of effective leadership” (142).
Thus, females’ capacity for leadership is usually underestimated due to their communication style, as well as gender-related stereotypes. Furthermore, women can be seen as arrogant or aggressive when they implement a masculine manner of speaking. Similarly, men might be perceived as weak or insecure when using a more feminine style of communicating. To conclude, it is crucial to examine the gender differences in communication and interaction according to the given context and culture in more complex ways.
Work Cited
Eklund, Kathryn E., et al. “Gender and Leadership.” Gender Differences in Different Contexts, edited by Aida Alvinius, InTech, 2017, pp. 129–147.