Culture and Gender Chapter 2

Understanding Culture and Communication  What is culture? o The learned, shared symbols, language, values, and norms that distinguish one group of people from another  This leads to our understanding of o Society—a group of people who share a given culture o In-groups—a group with whom we identify o Out-group—a group we see as different from ourselves

Culture and Communication  Ethnocentrism Systematic preference for characteristics of one’s own culture

Understanding Culture and Communication  The Components of Culture o Symbols o Represent an idea o Language o Written and spoken o Values o Right/wrong, good, beauty o Norms o Rules or expectations

Understanding Culture and Communication  Cultures and Co-Cultures  Co-cultures  Groups who share values, customs, norms  Smaller groups of people with whom we identify  Shared activities  Most of us belong to several co-cultures  Examples  Fraternities/sororities, religious groups, groups organized around hobbies

 Individualism vs. Collectivism Individualism—how much a culture emphasizes individuals rather than groups, primary responsibility is to the “self” Collectivism—culture emphasizes primary responsibility is to their families, communities, and employers How Culture Affects Communication

Culture and Communication  High- and Low-Context  Low-context—people are expected to be direct, say what they mean, express self, share opinions, try to persuade others  High-context—taught to speak less directly, maintain harmony, avoid offending others, subtle nonverbal behaviors signal meaning

Culture and Communication  Low- and High-Power Distance  Low-Power Distance—in democratic societies, people believe in equality, everyone is created equal, no one group should have excessive power, no one person is better than others, may question authority  High-Power Distance—power distributed unevenly, rulers have much power, average citizen has less power, obedience without question

Culture and Communication  Masculine and Feminine Cultures Masculine—respect masculine values such as: ambition, achievement, acquire material goods Feminine—value nurturing, quality of life, service to others, not strongly differentiate masculine and feminine qualities

Culture and Communication  Monochronic and Polychronic—based on concept of time Molychronic—time is valuable, like a commodity, prompt Polychronic—time is holistic, fluid, less structured

Culture and Communication  Uncertainty Avoidance The extend to which people try to avoid situations that are unstructured, unclear, or unpredictable US is in middle of these two High Uncertainty Avoidant Cultures ○ Drawn to people and situations that are familiar, not risk-takers, fear failure, uncomfortable with differences of opinion, favor rules and laws Uncertainty-Accepting Cultures ○ Open to new situations, accommodating to different ideas and people

 Norms for how women and men are expected to act o Masculine—strength, competition, independent, sexual aggression, risk taking, logical, acquire resources, reject weakness, less emotional o Feminine—empathy, emotional expression, focus on relationships, interest in children, attend to appearance, cooperation, submissiveness o Androgynous—characteristics of both masculine and feminine Understanding Gender Roles and Communication Understanding Gender Roles and Communication

Gender and Communication  Gender and Verbal Communication o Expressive and Instrumental Talk o Women considered expressive, men instrumental o Language and Verbal Power o Men tend to interrupt more, talk more, give directions, express more opinions o Gendered Linguistic Styles o Women saying “we” or “they,” refer more to emotion, use longer sentences, more intense adverbs

How Gender Affects Communication o Touch and Body Movement o Differences for the genders o Emotional Communication o Women express more positive emotion than men o Show feelings of closeness or attachment o Doesn’t mean that men don’t experience same range of emotions as women! o Affectionate Behavior o Women use more nonverbal affection o Different reasons why