Difference model

Difference model

1. Deborah Jones

   • Difference – sees men and women belonging to different sub-cultures, who because they are socialised differently from childhood, have difficulties communicating with each-other.
     • House Talk - its distinguishing function is the exchange of information and resources connected with the female role as an occupation.
     • Scandal - a considered judging of the behaviour of others, and women in particular. It is usually made in terms of the domestic morality, of which women have been appointed guardians.
     • Bitching - this is the overt expression of women’s anger at their restricted role and inferior status. They express this in private and to other women only. The women who bitch are not expecting change; they want only to make their complaints in an environment where their anger will be understood and expected.
     • Chatting - this is the most intimate form of gossip, a mutual self-disclosure, a transaction where women use to their own advantage the skills they have learned as part of their job of nurturing others.

2. Deborah Tannen

   • 6 differences
     • Status vs. support
     • Independence vs. intimacy
     • Advice vs. understanding
     • Information vs. feeling
     • Orders vs. proposals
     • Conflict vs. compromise

3. Children and Gender

   • Haas (1978) Mixed-sex pairs – girl’s laughter was very prominent, boys used more sound effects and direct requests.
   • Goodwin (1990) Philadelphia – boys used explicit commands. Girls used mitigated directives and modal auxiliaries

4. Jennifer Coates

   • examined all-female conversations.
     • Talk is central to women’s friendship
     • Minimal responses
     • Hedges
     • Questions
     • Turn-taking