In these two chapters, Wood deals with the topics of gendered verbal and gendered nonverbal communication.
Chapter 5
Wood discusses six connections between language and gender. To her there is great importance in the language we are using. Language can express our cultural views and at the same time, it is a way that we express our gender identity or identities.
First, male generic language excludes women. Sometimes, language is meant to include both men and women, yet it will only refer to men. A few examples include salesman, policeman, or congressman. Oftentimes, people will think gender inclusive language is being used so as to be politically correct.
Second, language defines men and women differently. Men tend to be defined by what we achieve, what we participate in, or the positions we hold. Women are typically defined by the way they look and the people they know.
Thirdly, language shapes awareness of gendered issues. Things are easy to describe when we give a title to them. Sexual abuse was a previously clouded term. 'Date rape' used to not exist linguistically.
Fourth, language organizes perceptions of gender. We have stereotypes for both men and women. Stereotypes generalize people because of what somebody knows about some members of a group. Language also encourages polarized thinking, which has the ability to make things black and white.
Fifth, language evaluates gender. Words are used as labels, particularly for women; sweetheart, honey, baby doll. The same can be done for men, though less frequent and less evaluative in terms of meaning; bro, dude, buddy.
Sixth, language allows self-reflection. Language allows us to look at ourselves by thinking about terms in the context of being applied to others. Would I like to labeled as that? So why would I label others with that name? These are questions we can ask ourselves.
Wood devotes the second portion of chapter 5 to exploring the way in which we express gender identity through our communication.
As people, we are put into different speech communities, which exist 'when people share understandings about goals of communication, strategies for enacting those goals, and ways of interpreting communication' (126).
First, there's the lesson of children's play. Think of the playground! Think of the difference between the boys who play a game of football to the girls who are playing house. Boys tend to follow four rules when communicating. They use communication to assert self, achieve something, attract/maintain others attention, and to compete for 'center stage.' Girls follow a different set of rules. They use communication to create/maintain relationships, establish equality, include others, and to show sensitivity.
Wood goes on to talk about the major differences in masculine and feminine communication. At times, these differences can cause problems between the sexes that can be avoided. Appreciation and understanding for the different approaches to communication taken by each sex is a good starting block for effective communication in the future.
Chapter 6
In this chapter, Wood illustrates the functions of nonverbal communication as well as the forms of nonverbal communication. In the sections on forms, Wood points out a number problems that arise based on societies expectations of communication with the opposite sex.
The first function of nonverbal communication is to supplement verbal communication. It can repeat, contradict, complement, replace, and/or accent verbal linguistics.
Second, nonverbal communication regulates interaction. Physical signs such as body posture, eye contact, and vocal inflection all contribute.
Thirdly, nonverbal communication establishes the relationship level of meaning. Responsiveness shows how much a person is invested in what the other is saying or doing. Nonverbal behavior also conveys the level of 'liking,' i.e. touching, proximity to another. Power or control is also conveyed through nonverbal behavior. We can tell whether someone believes they are above me, below me or my equal based on their nonverbal communication.
The forms of nonverbal communication can convey a lot of information.
The first is an artifact. These are objects that can express personality, identity, characteristics and even reflect how we see ourselves. Some artifacts are expressed by culture as dominant to one gender rather than the other (i.e. lawnmower to males and kitchen apron to females).
The second form is proximity and personal space. Some cultures wouldn't even think of having a bedroom for each child in the family. Imagine the president of a company: he has 1/10 the paperwork of his secretary who has 1/10 of his office space. If someone steps into our 'personal bubble,' see this as a violation of our space.
Another form is touch. Sometimes this is a pat on the shoulder, a slap on the wrist or a back rub. Each action conveys a different message. And if we think about it, males and females (boy and girls) are more likely to receive one type of treatment over the other.
Facial and body motion is yet another form. Women tend to smile more than men, while men are more likely to clench their fists. Both convey a different emotion.
Paralanguage is a fifth form, also known as vocal cues. Tone of voice, volume and pitch all contribute different meaning and each one tends to be particular to a sex.
The last form is physical appearance. This can include clothing, accessories and body type. This is also perhaps the most problematic for society as a whole. Culture seems to set a standard for the way we should look, and some will go to extremes to achieve what they believe is the acceptable look.
We interact best when we can understand, appreciate, respect and value ALL types of communication, whether verbal or nonverbal. An individual doesn't have to use all forms from the two chapters, but knowledge of them helps the process of change Wood is going for in regards to the volatility shown to the topic of gender.
Links to articles, blogs, music...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ekaterina-walter/gender-stereotypes_b_1477735.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-12/London-Olympics-womens-sports-Christine-Brennan-Title-IX/57016306/1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUdwCQ8t_R0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWKXit_3rpQ&feature=youtu.be
Questions to ask...
Why do some see gender inclusive language as 'politically correct' instead of fair or just plain right?
Why is the opposite sex so hard to read (prior to reading Wood's book)?
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