1. Smith 1
Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
The Communication Myth: Are Women Better Communicators?
Women may like to think that because of they may be more emotionally in touch with
themselves than men that they have a slight advantage over the male sex. Communication
requires empathy, understanding, and listening ears. Many of these traits are generally attributed
to women, and mistakenly women only. Although popular wisdom holds that women are more
effective in their communication than men, the evidence to prove such a claim does not exist.
Women cannot be assumed as more effective communicators based on three factors: women
vary across cultures, men and women share similar communicative behaviors, and generalized
communicative behaviors of women are not necessarily better than those of men.
Discussion and debate on gender related communication differences has been circulating
popular literature and media for decades. According to an article, “Are Women Better
Communicators than Men?,” on Ragan’s PR Daily website, a relevantly new study by the
University of Maryland School of Medicine reveals that the female brain contains more of Foxp2
expression, better known as the “language protein.” This discovery has provided significant
evidence for proponents of the idea that women are better communicators than their male
counterparts. Cheryl Sisk of Michigan State University explains that higher levels of the
language protein “…are found in the more communicative sex in each species” (“Are
Women?”). The study is further supported by other research which indicates that baby girls
possess more of the protein than baby boys and young girls implement earlier usage of language

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
than boys (“Are Women?”). Current research has exposed many physiological reasons which
give women the upper hand in being better communicators.
Other professional opinions propose that the reasons for which women are more effective
communicators are due to environmental factors. Senior vice president of Ink House Media and
Marketing, Tina Cassidy, holds a different theory of why women could potentially be better
communicators: “In ancient times, when men were out hunting wooly mammoth, women were
left behind to tend and befriend, and had to be better communicators in order to survive as a
group” (“Are Women?”). Today, societal norms and structures have a really strong influence on
gender based communication. Jenny Schneider, in her dissertation Effect of Gender-Related
Communication Differences and Awareness of Gender-Related Communication Barriers on
Communication Effectiveness, mentions the importance gender orientation has on differences
between the two sexes (1). Schneider argues that such societal norms have termed women’s
communication style as “emotional, receptive, and conciliatory” (4). It is clear some research
stand behind the concept that females are more effective communicators than men. However,
according to Cassidy, “talking more doesn’t always mean communicating better.” In fact, there
are multiple reasons why women cannot be claimed as more effective in communicating than
men.
Women’s varying communication behaviors and traits across cultures provide evidence
proving that women as whole are not more effective communicators than men. There are far too
many differences between the female sex and gender across cultures to possibly clump them all

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
together and declare they portray the same communicative traits. “Culture,” by Marcelle E.
DuPraw and Marya Axner’s definition in “Working on Common Cross-cultural Communication
Challenges”, “refers to a group or community with which we share common experiences that
shape the way we understand the world.” According to DuPraw and Axner, both scholars on
cross-cultural communication and resolution, a person can become part of another culture simply
by moving to another area, rising or falling on the economic status ladder, or through acquiring a
disability. The hundreds of thousands of sub cultures that exist even within a larger nationalistic
culture present many communicative differences. Researches cannot categorize women as better
communicators without overlooking and over generalizing the plethora of differences that exist
from one culture to the next.
Some cultural differences seen through the use of communication permeate through
language and values. DuPraw and Axner note that the meaning of words or phrases, even across
cultures that speak the same language, can vary significantly. For example, “the meaning of
“yes” varies from “maybe, I’ll consider it,” to “definitely so,” with many shades in between”
(DuPraw and Axner). Cultural values also affect communication style. According to Bethami
Dobkin and Roger Pace, in their textbook Communication in a Changing World, cultures are
either high context, communication through implicit clues, or low context, communication
through explicit expression (217). Many westernized cultures lean toward the high context form
of communication, while other cultures, such as those of many Asian countries, prefer the low
context method. Other cultural values and preferences that affect communication include views

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
on collectivism vs. individualism, feminine vs. masculine, high vs. low power distance, and high
vs. low uncertainty distance (Dobkin and Pace 250). The communicative factors that change
from culture to culture present too many complicated variables to categorize women as the more
effective communicative gender.
There is yet another factor that changes within communication across cultures: non-
verbal communication. Non-verbal communication, as defined by DuPraw and Axner, includes
facial expressions and gestures, among the more common aspects, along with “seating
arrangements, personal distance, and sense of time.” Dr. Ann Neville Miller of the Nicholson
School of Communication at the University of Central Florida conducted a study on students in
Brazil, Kenya, and the United States which was comprised of surveys which asked questions
about non-verbal behaviors. Miller reveals the study’s results in her article “Men and Women’s
Communication is Different—Sometimes.” Miller’s findings expose the truth on common belief
that women are more accurate at detecting certain non-verbal cues and utilizing them more
frequently than men. The study concluded that while “…American women noticed these
behaviors by their friends more than American men did, there was only a slight difference
between Kenya men and women, and no difference at all between the perceptions of men and
women in Brazil” (Miller). Surprisingly, the results have more to do with the women of the
study than with the men. While the Men showed similar understanding of non-verbal behaviors
among friends and instructors, the variation that resulted between the countries can be attributed
directly to the women’s differing perceptions of non-verbal cues (Miller). The differing degree

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
of importance placed on non-verbal behavior from one culture to another is a big indicator that
women as a whole cannot be deemed better communicators.
Another reason why women are not necessarily more effective communicators than men
is that there are similarities in communicative behaviors that both women and men possess. A lot
of past and current research alike focuses in on the differences that exist between the two genders
and their communicative styles, but little research has been conducted to account for their
similarities. According to Erina MacGeorge, an assistant professor of communication, although
there are minute differences between the communication styles of men and women, they are not
extreme enough to claim that each sex comes from a different planet; MacGeorge refers to the
best-selling book “Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus” by John Gray (“Purdue
Study”). “For the most part,” says MacGeorge, men and women use, and strongly prefer, the
same ways of comforting others” (“Purdue Study”). Although MacGeorge’s statement confronts
many social norms regarding gender, she may be on to something. Miller puts it this way:
“although it is helpful for women and men to be aware that in specific relational roles they may
tend to communicate differently… they are likely to have many more commonalities than
differences. Differences are easy to point out, but there are plenty of similarities to explore
between the male and female sexes.
There is plenty of evidence to support the idea that women and men communicate with
differing style and technique. The differences that exist between the communicative behaviors
of men and women range from areas of problem and relationship management to non-verbal

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
communication. Simma Lieberman, a professional communication coach for organizations, lists
many examples of differences between gender-based communication in her article “Differences
in Male and Female Communication Styles.” Such examples include women are likely to be
more talkative about their problems and decision-making, whereas men usually keep personal
matters to themselves (Lieberman). Lieberman also states that women come across as more
relationship oriented and “…look for commonalities and ways to connect with other women,”
compared to men who focus on self dominance and status. Non-verbal behavior also varies
between the sexes. Miller states that in demonstration of behaviors such as, “…eye contact,
smiling, direct body orientation, close proximity, gesturing, vocal inflections, and physical
contact while communicating,” is usually detected more accurately by the female sex. There are
perhaps as many differences in communication between men and women as there are individuals
on the planet, but this truth does not negate the overwhelming presence of similarities.
The stunning similarities that exist between men and women in their communication
behaviors outweigh the differences. MacGeorge conducted three studies in which questionnaires
and interviews were conducted on a sample of 738 people (417 women and 321 men) (“Purdue
Study”). MacGeorge’s first study revealed that there was only a 2 percent difference between
men and women in how they naturally support friends, the second study conducted by
MacGeorge, despite the societal norm which says “…that men reject advice because it threatens
their independence…” both sexes responded to advice in the same manner, and the third study
proved only a 3 percent difference in preferred comforting comments” (“Purdue Study”). The

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
differences MacGeorge’s studies yielded are very marginal. In one of Miller’s studies on the
perception of non-verbal cues based on position of authority, her findings conclude that college
students note no difference in female professors’ non-verbal communication compared to male
professors. In different situations, men and women show a variety of communication behaviors,
which present more similarities between the two. As MacGeorge implies, “and when you are the
member of one group, it’s easy to notice differences rather than similarities in people from the
other group.” However, just because similarities go unnoticed does not mean they are not there.
The similarities which exist between male and female communicative styles abolish the idea that
women are better communicators than men.
The third reason for which women cannot be assumed as the better communicative sex is
that the communicative behaviors traditionally assigned as effective that are attributed to the
female sex are not always better. Both appropriate and effective communication behavior is all
situational. According to Lieberman, “there are women that have some traits that might be
attributed to the male style or there are times when it is necessary to use the male style and the
same for men.” Lieberman gives two examples to explain her proposition. She presents the
scenarios of a female surgeon who should use a hierarchical communication style versus a
consensus based style and a male executive director who should use a consensus based approach
instead of a hierarchical style when planning a trip (Lieberman). Her examples clearly illustrate
the necessity of situational-based communication behavior. Women’s communication style is
also criticized in some circumstances. Schneider gives the example of a “female-oriented

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
communicator,” who although is normally praised for utilizing a “high degree of holistic
communication behavior” can sometimes be criticized for not getting to the point. Neither male
nor female style is better than the other; it all depends. Because women’s traditionally assigned
communicative behaviors are not always the most effective given the situation, women are not
more effective communicators than men.
Instead of exercising one style over the other, both male and female based behaviors
should be encompassed. Androgynous behavior, behavior indicative of female and male traits, is
the most effective communication style (Schneider). Schneider argues that “individuals who
exhibit high levels of both masculinity and femininity are optimally equipped for behavioral
flexibility and corresponding adaptability in varied, dynamic environments.” The opposite is
also true: individuals who portray high levels of just one gender prove to be restricted by their
“behavioral roles” (Schneider). Furthermore, androgynous behaviors allows both men and
women to expand “the breadth of their communicative competence,” and “[enhance] the range of
situations in which they can be effective” (Schneider). Lieberman says that while it is important
people understand the cultural norms which directly affect male and female communicative
behaviors, up to 45% of the male and female population do not “fit the mold.” Therefore,
androgyny is the best solution. Both womanly and manly communication traits can be effective,
so women cannot be automatically assumed as better communicators than men.
Women and men are different. Their physiology, genetic make-up, and communication
behaviors do vary, but that does not make one sex better than the other. While much research

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
conducted within the past century has revealed women to be better communicators than men,
more recent research proves otherwise. Women cannot be assumed as better communicators
because many differences exist between women across cultures, men and women exhibit similar
communicative behaviors, and stereotypical womanly traits are not always the best or most
effective. So if womanly communication behavior is not the key to more effective
communication then what is? The first step is to start “identifying [the] polar traits…” between
men and women “to question generalities and resist limiting conceptions of communication
behavior” (Schneider). The stereotypes must go.

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Hannah Smith
Dr. Acree
COMP 102
17 June 2015
Works Cited
“Are Women Better Communicators Than Men?” Ragan’s PR Daily. Ragan Communications,
Inc., 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 9 June 2015.
Dobkin, Bethami A., and Roger C. Pace. Communication in a Changing World. 2006 ed. Boston:
McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.
DuPraw, Marcelle E., and Marya Axner. “Working on Common Cross Cultural Communication
Challenges.” Toward a More Perfect Union in an Age of Diversity. Topsfield Foundation
and Marci Reaven, 1997. Web. 9 June 2015.
Lieberman, Simma. “Differences in Male and Female Communication Styles.” “The
Inclusionist” – Simma Lieberman. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 June 2015.
Miller, Ann Neville. “Men and Women’s Communication is Different—Sometimes.”
Communication Currents. 6.1 (2011): n. pag. Web. 9 June 2015.
“Purdue Study Shows Men, Women Share Same Planet.” Purdue News. Purdue University, 17
Feb. 2004. Web. 9 June 2015.
Schneider, Jenny D. Effect of Gender-Related Communication Differences and Awareness of
Gender-Related Communication Barriers on Communication Effectiveness. Diss. Capella
U, 2007. Ann Arbor: UMI, 2007. ProQuest. Web. 9 June 2015.