Gender- Theorists

Gender- Theorists

1. Deborah Jones

   • Studied Women's gossip.
     • 1. House Talk; Exchange of information and resources connected with the female role as an occupation.
     • 2. Scandal; Judging behaviour of others especially women.
     • 3. Bitching; Expression of women's anger, make compliments in private or to other men.
     • 4. Chatting; Everyday conversation, a form of female talk

2. O' Barr and Atkins

   • They studied language variation in a specific institutional context
   • They found that lack of power derived from job status, rather than gender. For example; a doctor would be more powerful and use more powerful language than a binman.
   • They found that the women who used fewest "women traits" had very good jobs.
   • Studied courtroom cases for 30 months; concluded that peoples language differs based on the situation specific, subject to peoples power status not gender.

3. Pamela Fishman (1978)

   • Women asked 263 questions at home, whereas men only asked 107.
   • Men used statements twice as much as women did and women nearly always responded.
   • Women use short responses to show interest and attention, whereas men use it to show lack of interest.
   • Out of 75 topics introduced, 45 were from women and 30 were from men.
     • 45 introduced topics by women, only 17 led to developed comnversations, all 30 of men's conversations were fully developed.