Benjamin Okelberry

Barton
Comm Theory
April 6, 2018
Communication Style- 3 Examples of Male-Female Miscommunication
Artifact Example 1: Forbes online article in CAREERS #LikeABoss dated 4/3/2018, Author
Margie Warrell

https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2018/04/03/women-how-to-use-power-language-
tostand-out-grow-presence-and-get-ahead/#7ed3ff8b1200

I was looking for ideas about different genders and their communication style in Business
organizations. It seems that some studies oversimplify and even stereotype male and female
differences in communication. Because of these differences, women can sometimes be
perceived in business differently from men. For example, studies have shown that women are
talked about more negatively for being assertive than men. Anyone who's ever heard a woman
called pushy while her male colleague is seen as a leader for the same communication style
understands that. Specifically, stereotypes say that women are passive, quiet, nurturing,
grouporiented, and intuitive. In contrast, male stereotypes include assertive, competitive, and
logical thinking and communication.

This article talks about Women using “Out-of Power” language and speech. Often apologizing
for their views, and for their successes in business. Here are a few examples the Author gives.

- I think I can do that > I can do that

- I will try> I will do
- I hope I can> I’m confident I will
- Would you be able to do this for me> Can you do this for me?

Another point that Ms.Warrell makes in her article, is that when women were part of a team, the
business group’s collective IQ went of significantly. The study was found in the Harvard
Business review. https://hbr.org/2011/06/defend-your-research-what-makes-a-team-
smartermore-women. Written by Professors Thomas Malone and Anita Woolley June 2011
Artifact Example 2: NU Law School Study by Law Professor Tanya Jacobi and 3rd year Law
student Dylan Schweers

Study finds men on Supreme Court interrupt female colleagues more frequently

4/12/2017 CBS Evening News

Supremely Annoying Female SCOTUS Justices Get Interrupted More

4/12/2017 News, Science, Tech and Health

A research study conducted at the Pritzker School of Law revealed female justices of the
Supreme Court are about three times more likely to be interrupted by men than their male
counterparts. “I was blown away by the amount of times the female justices were interrupted by
their male colleagues,” Schweers said. “We wanted to look at systematic … gender interruptions
occurring at the Supreme Court.” Schweers said he and Professor Jacobi hoped the study would
raise awareness about the issue, adding that they are “excited” by the amount of attention the
study received.

After watching both of these news videos, I was still surprised that not only were the female
justices interrupted by the male justices but also the other insubordinate lawyers pleading their
cases to the full justice court. I also noted that the female justices often used more polite speech
than the male justices, saying things like “May I ask” before asking the questions. I think if they
keep getting interrupted. They shouldn’t be polite and say “excuse me I was speaking”, they just
need to keep talking right over the person who is interrupting them.

I can’t believe that in this study, a study that even in this equal level of one of the highest
professions. That “It shows that no matter how much you achieve as a woman you are still going
to be treated as somehow less than a man.” -Tanya Jacobi-
Artifact Example 3: “What Your Teenager Wants to Ask You” Dr. Liz Hale with Brooke Walker
on Studio 5 KSL April 4, 2018

https://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?sid=46285216&nid=118

I have an Aunt that is a news anchor on KSL TV Channel 5. Her name is Shara Park. I often
watch her in the mornings while I get ready for class. Sometimes she substitutes for the host of a
TV program on KLS, called Studio 5 with Brooke Walker. Well, today she was introducing a
segment coming up on Studio 5 about “What Your Teenager Wants to Ask You”. So, I decided
to watch it and see if I could use it as one of my examples. I loved it and it reminded me of a
conversation that I had with my Mother about 5 years ago when I was in High School.

Here is my experience and a great example of “Lost in Translation”. I was working on a biology
paper and diagramming the Cell cycle. I was really working hard on this assignment. I sat at the
kitchen table with my Biology book out and computer running. Trying to finish up, because of
course it was due the next day at school. I was a little upset and needed to ask a few questions to
someone that knew science and or biology. My mother who was also in the Kitchen had just
returned home from work and getting ready to make dinner, looked over at me and could see I
was getting frustrated. She asked me if she could help and I said “no Mom, I need someone who
knows about Cells. Well she got really excited and ran over and said “I know about Sales!” I said
“Oh, Great, okay.” Then she said she had books and reports and would run downstairs and get
them out of the storage room. Well, I was relieved, and waited for her to come back stairs.

She lugged up the stairs a white box that was full of Books and reports. I opened the box and
sure enough there were books and books on being a “sales” manager, marketing director, self
motivation, accounting, and banking etc... My Mom worked for Wells Fargo Bank and was a
Branch Manager and assistant Vice President over the region we lived in. Yep, she knew about
sales. We still laugh whenever we hear the word Cell or Sale.

In this TV segment Dr. Liz Hale talks about how to listen and communicate with each other
better. Try to be on the same page. Know when enough is enough and you don’t have to be
perfect. Keep an open mind. Be patient with each other as you communicate. Just be there!