1. Culture and Gender Chapter 2

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6.  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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12.  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

13. 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

14. 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