A Critique of the Genderlect Theory

by Chrissy Coughlin

Deborah Tannen, a lingustic professor at Georgetown University,

has researched conversational styles of men and women. She
developed Genderlect Theory, which views communication between
men and women through a humanistic and scientific approach.
Genderlect mainly states that the differences between the
communication styles that women and men use are cross-cultural.
Tannen says that in order to avoid conflict from our different
methods of communication, men and women need to come to an
understanding of the other's ways. For instance, women need to
remember that men are looking for status and autonomy. Men need
to remember that women want a sense of community through their
communication efforts.
There are five standards that can be applied to the Genderlect
theory when aproaching the critique through a humanistic
approach:
 New Understanding of People: The Genderlect theory meets this
standard through explaining the differences of communication
between men and women. Pointing out these facts makes it easier to
understand cross cultural communication.
 Clarification of Values: Tannen approaches this standard by
explaining men and women's opposing values that they expect from
cross cultural communication. Tannen expresses her own ideas on
this subject.
 Aesthetic Appeal: The Genderlect theory has an aesthetic appeal
because it looks at conflict between men and women in a new way.
Her original approach brings up many issues of cross cultural
communication that can be applied to a relationship that is taking
place in the present, not just in the past.
 A Community of Agreement: Many scholars approach the
Genderlect theory in a number of different ways. For example,
Tannen is in accordance with researchers Leslie Baxter and Barbara
Montgomery on the topic of intimacy versus independence. On the
other hand, Tannen has recieved apposing views from German
linguist Senta Troemel-Ploetz. Troemel-Ploetz's opinion is discussed
in detail later on.
 Reform of Society: The purpose of Tannen's Genderlect theory is
to promote positive change within cross cultural relationships by
coming to terms of understanding. Through understanding the
different ways men and women communicate, relationships should
improve.
Tannen's theory can be looked at in a number of ways. For starters,
people who believe this theory tend to apply certain experiences that
fit and exclude the rest. This theory seems to trick people into
believing that this was the reason why there was conflict with a
member of the opposite sex. Her theory fails to remind the reader
that this doesn't always apply to every person who has dealt with
conflict while communicating. Tannen developed her theory in a way
that views communication between men and women negatively.
Tannen needs to remember that differences between our
communication styles are good at times because it makes life
exciting. It lets us interpret communication from the opposite sex on
our own terms, not according to research. Also, according to a
feminist scholar and German linguist, Senta Troemel-Ploetz, Tannen
tends to forget that there are many issues of male dominance over
women. Troemel-Ploetz feels that if you forget this there will never
be any terms of understanding.

On the other hand, Genderlect Theory is an easy explanation that is

understandable for an average person. It is easy to apply to any
relationship between members of the opposite sex. The Genderlect
Theory is a good method, but people need to remember that there
are other factors that can explain conflict and lead to a greater
relationship.
For more information on the Genderlect theory click here.

Jenny's title page

Griffin,Em. A First Look at Communication Theory.

New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc.,1997.
Genderlect Theory have also a standards that can be applied in approaching the critique
There are five standards that can be applied to the Genderlect theory when aproaching the
critique through a humanistic approach:
• New Understanding of People:
• Clarification of Values: Tannen approaches this standard by explaining men and
women's opposing values that they expect from cross cultural communication. Tannen
expresses her own ideas on this subject.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The Genderlect theory has an aesthetic appeal because it looks at
conflict between men and women in a new way. Her original approach brings up many
issues of cross cultural communication that can be applied to a relationship that is taking
place in the present, not just in the past.
• A Community of Agreement: Many scholars approach the Genderlect theory in a
number of different ways. For example, Tannen is in accordance with researchers Leslie
Baxter and Barbara Montgomery on the topic of intimacy versus independence. On the
other hand, Tannen has recieved apposing views from German linguist Senta Troemel-
Ploetz. Troemel-Ploetz's opinion is discussed in detail later on.
• Reform of Society:

“Feminist communication theory...begins with the goals of understanding and explaining

gender, refusing to accept stock answers and unchallenged common-sense assumptions.
Feminist communication theory begins with an assumption that we are in need of deep
structural change to produce new social relations and just societies." Feminist
communication theory theorizes gender, communication, and social change. Genderlect
Theory views communication between men and women through a humanistic and
scientific approach, stating that the differences between the communication styles that
women and men use are cultural. Genderlect Theory claims that men are more concerned
with power while women focus on connections, leading to "cross-cultural"
misunderstandings between the sexes. An example of this difference that a supporter of
Genderlect Theory may believe would be how men and women think about personal
relationships with the opposite sex and how they talk about their problems in different
ways. However, Genderlect Theory claims that men view the world through the lens of
hierarchy and that women are only concerned with making connections. Do you believe
this to be true? I myself have known plenty of men who think about or view relationships
just as the women they are dating do, and miscommunications arise from personality
differences, not miscommunications. I believe that Feminist communication theory
relates to Genderlect Theory because I believe Genderlect Theory to be categorizing
women and communication, using stereotypes to form the theory, which is what Feminist
communication theorists strive to avoid.