Different ways of understanding gender difference in interpersonal communication

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR 2A: In the readings for this assignment, two authors propose two different ways of understanding gender difference in interpersonal communication. 1. Tannen argues for the idea that gender difference is like cultural difference. Do you agree? Why or why not? Draw on examples from the text and/or your personal life to support your conclusion. 2. Cameron proposes that when “miscommunication” happens between the genders it’s really a struggle for power, and not really a misunderstanding at all. Do you agree? Why or why not? Draw on examples from the text and/or your personal life to support your conclusion. 3. One solution that is often proposed for women who are having trouble interacting with male counterparts at work or in relationships is to “talk more like a man.” Have you ever attempted this and how did it work out for you? If you haven’t attempted this, try to imagine the response you might get from a boss, coworker or significant other. How do you think they would respond to this change in the way you speak and interact? Attached Files tannen_the_relativity_of_linguistic_strategies.pdf (768.625 KB) cameron-gender_power_and_pragmatics.pdf (612.554 KB) Note* You may have to right click on the second page of the Tannen reading and choose “rotate” if the document doesn’t display correctly for you.

GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR 2B: 1. In this assignment, Sanders proposes a way of thinking about our personal relationships that is inspired by Goffman’s work on “face.” He suggests that pe

rhaps we are not attracted to people because they show us who they really are “on the inside” but because we are attracted to their performance of their role-identities and whether our performance of role-identity is “attractive” and “compatible” to theirs. With that in mind: 2. Given Sander’s discussion, how are we to understand the experience that many of us have had that we like someone when we are friends with them, and get along with them well, but when we get into a relationship with them we find we can’t stand them and don’t get along at all? Use Sander’s ideas to explain how this is possible. 3. Are you persuaded that Sanders view of relationships, using Goffman’s concepts, is correct or useful? Why or why not? 4. In our other reading for this week Baxter describes the tensions romantic relationships exist in. 5. Baxter describes a variety of dialtectical tensions including the need for “autonomy” vs. the need for “connection,” the need for “openness” vs. the need for “closedness,” and the need for “novelty” vs. “predictabililty.” When Baxter wrote this article, social media didn’t really exist. How do you think new technologies and software like smart phones, facebook, twitter, etc. might affect these tensions? Are certain tensions likely to become more or less problematic because of these? Attached Files sanders-find_your_partner_and_dosido.pdf (1.062 MB) baxter-dialiectical_contradictions.pdf (550.4 KB)