Gender Role Separation in Intercultural Communication

Basic Orientation The extent to which the members of a culture or society idealize the separation of male and female roles in that society When the roles are separated, the nature of the idealized roles each is to play (i.e., What ideals characterize male vs. female roles?)

Hofstede’s General Characteristics “Masculine” “Feminine” Intuitive Tender Harmonious Modest Friendly Decisive Tough Competitive Performing Brilliant

Sample Hofstede Values Median Score: 50 Low Score: 5 High Score: 95 Netherlands Sweden Norway Denmark Pakistan United States Costa Rica Yugoslavia Singapore Mexico Switzerland Italy Austria Hungary Finland Chile Venezuela Brazil Malaysia Canada Ireland Japan 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 Small Gender Role Separation (Feminine) Large Gender Role Separation (Masculine)

Case Study: Gender Roles and Expectations in the U.S.

Communication Patterns Status & Independence Intimacy & Connection

National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM) The NSAM is a nationally representative household-based survey of 1,729 15 to 19 year old males, A total of 890 variables were used in this study, exploring a range of issues . . . [including] attitudes about . . . gender roles. . . . Respondents included 494 Black, 618 White, 558 Hispanic and 59 "other" males. Source: http://www.socio.com/galetempmembers/bsri2/module3/framemodconcepts.htm

Growing Up Male and Female For boys . . . For girls . . . Form groups Enjoy doing more than talking Talk used to jockey for status; need respect Play competitively Easy to join groups . . . but hard to get equal status Form pairs; have “best friends” Share secrets to build and keep friendships; need intimacy Play cooperatively Harder to join groups . . . but members of the group are more equal Source: Deborah Tannen, That’s Not What I Meant

. . . signal different things! “Heart to Heart” Talks . . . . . . signal different things! For men, heart to heart talks . . . For women, heart to heart talks . . . Are not considered crucial to the relationship Are primarily present when there is a problem in the relationship Signal danger and should be stopped (by solving the problem) Indicate that the relationship is working Are the means of engaging/connecting in the relationship Should be initiated by both sides to save/keep/grow the relationship

How Men/Women Talk Masculine Feminine Sidetrack (by joking or challenging interpretations or changing the subject) Give advice/solve problems Give facts to show they are listening (report) Attend to concrete things and events Use questions to show interest Respond to vunerability in kind to show interest Share relational details to shows they are listening (rapport) Attend to relational details