Genderlect Styles +Premise: +Genderlect: A term suggesting that masculine and feminine styles of discourse are best viewed as two distinct cultural dialects +Women’s Desire for Connection vs. Men’s Desire for Status women seek Connection men seek status +Rapport Talk vs. Report Talk rapport talk: The typical conversation style of women, which seeks to establish connection with others report talk: The typical mono logic style of men, which seeks to command attention, convey information, and win arguments. +How do men and women typically differ on each of the following 4 behaviors? Telling Stories Women: -stories women tell about themselves reveal a great deal about their hopes, needs and values -downplay themselves -show attentiveness through verbal and nonverbal cues -interrupts to show agreement, to give support, or to supply what she thinks the speaker will say (a cooperative overlap) Men: -humour stories have an air of "can you top this one?" -tell more stories and jokes than women (masculine way to negotiate status) -are heroes in their own stories -may avoid attentiveness to keep from appearing "one-down" -regard any interruption as a power move Women: hold eye contact, offer head nods or yeah...uhuh or other responses to show they are actively listening. Interruptions offer support. Men:  overt style is to say "I agree with you" to avoid a one down stance. Men interrupt to take control of the conversation or to switch the conversation. Listening and Interruptions Asking Questions Men:  -don't ask for help as questions are a form of verbal sparing and public face is more important -don't ask for help because it exposes their ignorance Women: -ask questions to establish a connection with others -when stating opinions often use tag questions to soften the sting of potential disagreement and to invite participation in open, friendly dialogue; "That was a good movie, don't you think?| Conflict Women: -threat to connection, to be avoided at all costs Men: -life is a contest therefore more comfortable with conflict, usually initiate it -wary about being told what to do ...

1. Genderlect Styles
+Premise:
+Genderlect: A term suggesting that masculine and feminine
styles of discourse are best viewed as two distinct cultural
dialects
+Women’s Desire for Connection vs. Men’s Desire for Status
women seek Connection
men seek status
+Rapport Talk vs. Report Talk
rapport talk: The typical conversation style of women, which
seeks to establish connection with others
report talk: The typical mono logic style of men, which seeks to
command attention, convey information, and win arguments.
+How do men and women typically differ on each of the
following 4 behaviors?
Telling Stories
Women:
-stories women tell about themselves reveal a great deal about

2. their hopes, needs and values
-downplay themselves
-show attentiveness through verbal and nonverbal cues
-interrupts to show agreement, to give support, or to supply
what she thinks the speaker will say (a cooperative overlap)
Men:
-humour stories have an air of "can you top this one?"
-tell more stories and jokes than women (masculine way to
negotiate status)
-are heroes in their own stories
-may avoid attentiveness to keep from appearing "one-down"
-regard any interruption as a power move
Women:
hold eye contact, offer head nods or yeah...uhuh or other
responses to show they are actively listening. Interruptions
offer support.
Men:
overt style is to say "I agree with you" to avoid a one down
stance. Men interrupt to take control of the conversation or to
switch the conversation.
Listening and Interruptions
Asking Questions
Men:
-don't ask for help as questions are a form of verbal sparing and
public face is more important
-don't ask for help because it exposes their ignorance

3. Women:
-ask questions to establish a connection with others
-when stating opinions often use tag questions to soften the
sting of potential disagreement and to invite participation in
open, friendly dialogue; "That was a good movie, don't you
think?|
Conflict
Women:
-threat to connection, to be avoided at all costs
Men:
-life is a contest therefore more comfortable with conflict,
usually initiate it
-wary about being told what to do