Gender

Gender-based differences between men and women verbal and nonverbal communication impact social work education. Research has found that men generally talk more than women and interrupt more. Women tend to engage in more self-disclosure, display more empathetic behaviors, and be more adept at decoding and translating nonverbal behavior into meaningful messages. The reasons for these differential patterns of communication have long been in dispute. Some have explained the differences through biological theories--viewing them as innate; some have looked to psychological theories--believing the differences stem from cognitive stages of development or reinforcement procedures; some have posited social role theory--maintaining that we learn to act and talk in ways consistent with role expectations for masculine and feminine behavior: and some have looked to theories of societal development--hypothesizing that male dominance was built into the social structures, and that these structures determine communication patterns. Cross cultural communication may explain these gender differences clearly. (Janice De Lange)

Link For references:
Janice De Lange. Gender and communication in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 31(1), 75-81 http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/41345850?searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dcommunication%2Bdifferences%26amp%3Bprq%3DMale%2Band%2BFemale%2Bin%2BOrganizational%2BBehavior%26amp%3Bhp%3D25%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bso%3Drel%26amp%3Bacc%3Doff&resultItemClick=true&Search=yes&searchText=communication&searchText=differences&uid=3738832&uid=2134&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21105273353013