Blog 1: Gender Diffrences in Communication

     Gender affects every aspects of our lives, from how we feel about ourselves and set our goals in educational, recreational and work opportunities as well as the the nature and extent of our participation in social and civic life. It has a strong impact on the way how we practice our religion to the way we dress, the way we express our communications, feelings and the nature of all of our relationships with others. 
     As a woman, I always observed our ways in communicating with men. We tend to be more relationship oriented and accomplish tasks by building relationships first.We know who to ask and are in comfortable asking others to get things done.We often process and look at options out loud, also, we often think that man is being unresponsive to suggestions . We tend to  lead by consensus and always make sure that there is more equality. Furthermore, our non-verbal behavior also tells our personality & differences in communicating with men.Nodding our heads shows that we are listening to someone talking.And whenever we speak to a man, and if he does not say anything & stays in neutral body language to show that he is listening,we will then interpret that as a man being bored or not understanding what we are saying. We actually use more direct eye contact in conversation to create relationship connection & approach a man from the front.
     On the other hand,men tend to be more task oriented and go straight to the task. They build their relationships when they are in task or project.Men often think that women are looking for approval when they process out loud or don't know what they are doing.Some of them also think that a woman's way of processing is a sign of weakness.They tend to be more hierarchical and include only the people closest to them at their level in the decision making process when they think it necessary.They often leave the conversation thinking that a head nod means agreement and will be surprised to find out that the woman didn't agree at all.As the woman talks to them uncomfortable and keep on repeating what she is saying, the man interprets that as an insecurity.In addition to this, men always approach from the side at an angle, which is how each of them tends to stand or sit when talking to others.Men interpret the face to face as too personal, or aggressive while women will interpret the talking side to side as though he is not being upfront or even hiding something from her.Men also take up more time & space at meetings. They are fund of interrupting and talk over them much more that women interrupt men.
     Therefore, gender differences can be a volatile topics.We, as males and females should have to observe acceptance,understanding and limits & controls in our every actions and words for sometimes , it gives a wrong interpretation to others.And this can lead to the type of miscommunication based on assumptions of why member of the other sex are using certain verbal & non-verbal behaviors. This miscommunications can result in team breakdown , people not listening and loss of good ideas.