First published 1993
Deborah Tannen brings together twelve research papers that examine how gender shapes the way people talk to each other. The collection treats male and female communication styles as distinct cultural practices rather than biological differences. Tannen opens with her own essay on the relative nature of discourse strategies, setting the stage for studies that reject simple assumptions about gendered speech. The papers span different ages and settings, from preschool playgrounds to adult workplaces. Researchers document how preschoolers argue, how teenage girls engage in romantic teasing and competitive conversation, how adults tell stories, and how faculty members interact in committee meetings. The studies extend beyond American contexts to include children playing in urban Black neighborhoods and legal disputes in a Mexican village. Two chapters specifically review existing research on interruption patterns and how much men versus women actually speak. This anthropological approach reveals the complex ways gender and language intersect across different communities and life stages.
Genres: gender-studies, non-fiction, communication, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, cultural-differences
352 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press