Week 12 Genderlect Theory

This theory is based on Deborah's Tannen idea that communication between men and women are cross-cultural. (Griffin 2012)

Ruiz (2003) have stated that the genderlect theory explains that the between the gender of men and women, none of them are superior to one another. To explain it simply, the communication of men and women are taken as two separate forms of communication.

I would personally agree to an extent that there is a difference when men and women tries to communicate with one another. I would assume that this is something that all of us personally experience everyday such as the how our parents talk to each other or when we try talking to our opposite gender.

Most movies that involves opposite genders as their main casts, we can see how those opposite genders have distinctive way of communicating. I have a chose a typical movie as an example where I can how both genders tries to communicate with  one another. The movie is "A Walk To Remember"

A little bit of storyline of the movie;

This movie revolves around the story between two different individuals by the name Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan. Landon was held responsible for prank that goes wrong therefore he was being forced to participate in after-school community services as punishment. Jamie Sullivan is also participating in the after-school community service. Both of them have nothing in common at first, however when Landon starts asking help from Jamie, they started spending a lot of time together. Landon starts developing feelings for her. Going through all the pressure with dealing with Landon's popular friends and even Jamie's strict reverend father, they both realise the true meaning of true love. (IMDb 2012)

From the storyline, we cannot see much relation to the genderlect theory other than the fact that it involves the opposite genders. What I am trying to highlight here is how both genders react when they try to first communicate. 

If you watch the trailer, there are scenes where both genders talk to each other in the bus. One of the main concept of genderlect theory is that women seek human connection. Tannen (1990) stated that the women uses rapport talk to establish connection with other individuals. This is very evident in the movie trailer where Jamie tries to talk to Landon in the bus.

Tannen (1990) also stated that men uses report talk to gain status. This is very evident at the first 15 seconds of the movie trailer. Landon and his friends were trying to do some sort of 'prank' on one of their friends but ended up wrongly as that friend of theirs got hurt instead and they were apprehended by the law. The question is why did Landon did it? Here I agree with Tannen; to gain status.

To clarify on women doing rapport talk and men doing report talk; women engage in communication for the sake of developing and maintaning relationships with other individuals. Whereas for men, they only engage in communication when they see it as beneficial for them. (Tannen 1990)

Another assumption of genderlect theory is on how men and women tells stories. Men tell more jokes than women. Tannen (1990) stated that it is one of the ways that men achieve or negotiate status. In the movie trailer, Landon's prank on one of his friend is considered the pre-event, where to tell the joke, he needs to do the prank first. The prank itself is a way to show or negotiate status really. 

Again, I would personally agree to an extent that indeed men and women communicates differently. However, it does raise a question where due to the differences in the way men and women communicate, could it be possible that they might be misinterpreted? We need to be aware and respect on how both genders communicate. Indeed it is evident to most of us that communication between genders can be very frustrating as mutual agreements or understandings can be hard to achieved.

Caroll (2010) have explained that one of the biggest criticism of Tannen's theory is on her undimensional approach for the gender differences in communication. Tannen sees gender based on biological sex thus making her assume that men and women communicate in different ways. Numerous studies has been conducted on gender and communication and Caroll (2010) has stated that there is very little difference in how men and women communicate. There are factors that affects our ability to communicate such as gender roles, dominance and power. It was also argues that Tannen's studied only focused on young, well- educated, middle-class Americans as stated by Mortensen (2002) as cited by Caroll (2010). Therefore it is not possible to generalize Tannen's findings. There are other factors that need to be considered such as culture that may have a huge impact in how opposite genders communicate.

Perhaps the muted group theory may give a different approach where language can be seen to benefiting its creator which is man and not benefiting women where they seem to be at a disadvantage. (Ardener 2005)

References:

Ardener, S., (2005) Muted Group Theory Excerpts. Women and Language, Vol. 28, No. 2, Pg. 50-54.

Caroll, L., J., (2010) Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity. Belmont. Wadsworth.

Griffin, E., (2012) A First Look At Communication Theory (8th Edition). New York. McGraw Hill.

IMDb, (2012) Synopsis For A Walk To Remember. Retrieved on April 7 2012, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281358/synopsis.


Ruiz, S., J., (2003) Género, Lenguaje Y Traducción. University of Valencia.

Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand. New York: Ballantine.