The Great Divide of Men and Women Communication

The Great Divide of Men and Women Communication

One obstacle that men and women have faced since the beginning of time, is communication. Deborah Tannen, the author of Sex, Lies and Conversation; Why Is It So Hard For Men and Women to Talk to Each Other? attempts to identifies the differences and searches for the answer as to why, this inequality occurs. For Tannen, she believes that many of these differences develop as a young child, when we are playing with our peers and continues on into our adult life. However, Sex, Lies and Conversation; Why Is It So Hard For Men and Women to Talk to Each Other? was wrote over twenty years ago, and many question remain as to whether Tannen’s theory still hold true in a different time and place.

One of the first differences that Tannen discusses is the body language exhibited between the two sexes. Men generally when communicating have developed the tendency to look away, not making eye contact with the person any more than necessary. Men will also angle themselves away from the other person in the conversation. Men do this, in an attempt to remove the intimacy or emotion for the subject according to Tannen. Women, on the other hand, prefer to maintain eye contact and keep eye contact throughout the conversation, much like my mother when she is commanding my attention if had been insubordinate. I believe in this day and age you will see both genders using these communication mannerisms interchangeably, depending on the situation.

When it comes to discussing a certain topic, women, according to Tannen, would prefer to discuss a topic until it is completely discussed and all matters have been settled. However, daytime shows such as The View or The Talk would prove otherwise because of the frequency of topics under discussion left in the open air. For men, Tannen suggests that they are notorious for leaving subjects open and moving onto others. However, I would have to disagree again with Tannen. When I watch shows such...