American Male-Female Differences in Directness

            It is impossible to say that eveyone in one culture communicates similarly. Older people often communicate according to more traditional norms than younger people, and, as mentioned, there are regional variations in the way people speak and carry on conversations. In addition, there are gender diffeerences in communication styles.

            To generalize (and we do not want to stereotype), American women have traditionally been less direct (i.e., more polite and “soft”) than men in making request, expressing criticism, and offering opinions. However, when talking about emotional issues and feelings, women tend to be more direct than men. In the workplace, women have learned that in order to compete an communicate with men, they have to be more direct when making suggestions, giving criticism, and expressing ideas. In the mid-1980s, “assertiveness training” courses were designed to help women communicate more directly, especially in the business world. In the 1990s, however, there is more recognition of the feminine contribution to work relationships (e.g., nurturing, interpersonal sensitivity, etc.). the emphasis in the workplace is on cultural diversity; women are defined as  a “cultural group.”