Gender Differences
Men and women communicate with different focuses, motivations, and styles. The differences stem from gender-based indoctrinations as well as innate inclinations. (The characterizations of these gender differences are generalities for which individual exceptions abound.)
Women use communication to connect. Men talk for information or entertainment, often with status and dominance in mind.
If women disagree it affects their relationship. Men may disagree and not think much about it.
Women use more words to make a point; men are more succinct. Men make more direct statements. Men are more analytical, women more emotive. Women are more vocally and facially expressive.
Men think a problem through privately, then express the solution as a bottom line. Women use conversation to collaboratively work through a problem. Men appear less intuitive and less aware of details than women.
Women are more likely to ask for help rather than trying to figure things out on their own. Men keep their problems to themselves.
Women give feedback with tact, tentativeness, and sensitivity to others’ feelings. Men are direct with their feedback, without the intention of it being taken personally. Women tend to take verbal rejection more personally than men.
Men tend to finish one topic before moving on to the next. Women are more apt to topically meander before returning.
Women talk more about relationships. Men talk more about events and accomplishments.
