Gender dynamics in conversation

Gender plays a role in people's communications, and is well-demonstrated in mixed-gender conversations, panels, workshops, etc.

Men are socialized to take up verbal space by talking loudly, interrupting, not giving ground in conversations, and not providing conversational pauses to allow other people to talk. Substantively, men are socialized to state opinions as facts, and state facts assertively and as undisputed truths.

Women may be complementarily socialized to talk more quietly, not interrupt, apologize for interruptions or talking-over, and to provide conversational pauses frequently. Substantively, women are socialized to provide disclaimers before statements ("I think..." or "My understanding is...").

On the listener side, all people are socialized to pay more attention to deeper and louder voices and greater assertiveness and confidence in speaking. Unconscious responses to voice and tone alone can result in more interruptions of women, more uninterrupted space to rant for men, more challenging responses to women's assertions and opinions, and more unchallenged acceptances of men's assertions and opinions. Unconscious sexism can also play a role when a listener identifies a speaker as male or female, and of course conscious sexism may also be a factor.

In mixed-sex conversations, this can result in women's voices and opinions not being heard or not being accorded weight equivalent to their relative authority, knowledge, or participation in the conversation.

External Links & Bibliography

• badgerbag, 2006/5/31, "a particular kind of interruption"
• "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" by Suzette Haden Elgin
• http://www.sfwa.org/members/elgin/Peacetalk101/Index.html
• Láadan vs tlhIngan Hol (WisCon 30 Panel)