This document summarizes several theories about gender differences in communication styles. Robin Lakoff's theory proposed that women's language features include hedges, tag questions, rising intonation, and avoidance of strong language. Dominance theory from the 1970s suggested that in mixed-sex conversations, men interrupt more than women. Later researchers like O'Barr and Atkins found that language differences depend more on situational power than gender. Pamela Fishman argued interruptions result from how men respond to women's questions rather than inherent personality weaknesses. Deborah Tannen's difference model viewed gender communication as like different dialects due to different socialization experiences.