Sunday, June 21, 2009
Week 4, Blog 1, Chapter 7
On page 204 in chapter 7, in Frame 1: Gender Differences at Work, the popularity of John Gray’s book Men are from Mars, Woman are from Venus tests if men and woman communicate in fundamentally different ways. When I learned about this book and what advice and thoughts the author was coming up with it made me think about how different we communicate with the opposite sex. I agree that there are misunderstandings that men and women go through when trying to communicate with each other. I think the book probably helped many couples realize this.
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Yes, it definitely did. My husband and I have been married for 5 years ago and knew each other for a couple of years before that. Most of our "fights" were usually about misunderstandings that could have been avoided if we communicated better or at least understood the gender differences in communication.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the book Men are From Mars, I have also read some of Deborah Tannen's work that has helped me to understand gender differencs in relation to communication. There is one book called "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation" that you might want to read if you are interested in or need information for an assignment related to communication and gender differences.
Great post! I think that if women and men could understand communication differences, a lot of conflict could be avoided!
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ReplyDeleteMen are From Mars and Women are from Venus was one of those popular books you heard through out our media. I remember being 8 years old and watching Clueless everyday on VHS, and the main character kept telling her friend this is THE book to read to understand the opposite sex. I am glad it was mentioned in our textbook.
ReplyDeleteMolly: I will have to check out that book by Deborah Tannen "You just don't understand" it sounds like it will be very interesting for gender differences. :)
I must admit that I have not read the book "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus," but have heard from friends that the book was really helpful when they were having relationship issues, which were mainly communication issues.
ReplyDeleteThe same gender differences can be seen in organizational communication, but like the professor mentioned in her blog, they can be reduced by clear organizational values, mission, policies, and practices. I also believe that the individual's identities also play a major role in how he or she communicates. There are many males with female personality traits and vice a versa. Thus, along with gender, the multiple identities we all assume in various environments has a critical impact on the way we give,receive, and interpret messages.