1. Gender Role Separation in Intercultural Communication

2. 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?)

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

4. 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)

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

6. Communication Patterns
Status &
Independence
Intimacy &
Connection

8. National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM)
The NSAM is a nationally representative household-based survey of 1, 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:

9. 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

10. . . . 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

11. 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