Griffin (March 7, p. 436) defines Genderlect as “a term suggesting that masculine and feminine styles of discourse are best viewed as two distinct cultural dialects. According to Ruiz (2003) Genderlect theory is a study of two separate communication between men and women which non of this gender are the leader or superior among them.
To my understanding Genderlect theory is the study of communication style in different gender where women are more into connections in terms of intimacy in relationship and men are more to competitive relationship, independence, status, achievement, etc. This leads to misunderstanding which is “cross-cultural” between gender. This theory claims that, men sees how they can change the world on their own ideas and women only concerns on how to make connection.
For this post, I'll be using Knight and Day as my example:
Knight and Day follows the adventures of Roy Miller (Tom Cruise), a spy on the run, and June Haven (Cameron Diaz), a car restorer. We see Miller watching Havens, and he bumps into her a couple of times as they go through security at Wichita Airport. Havens is making her way back home to Boston from Wichita after picking up spare parts for her deceased father's classic GTO car, which she is restoring for her sister as a wedding gift. Even though she has a confirmed reservation for her flight, she is told at the gate that it is overbooked. Miller is able to board, whispers to her that she is better off taking the next flight. Unbeknownst to Havens, FBI Special Agent Fitzgerald (Peter Saarsgard) is monitoring Miller's movements and, believing she is working with Miller, puts her back on the flight list.
According to Tannen, men and women are from different “culture”. This is the reasons why they cannot understand among themselves in terms of what they do or say. They have way of communicating style cause they are from different culture. (March 7, 2011, P.436).To apply this on my example, in the car scene after Roy kidnaped June, he and she were having crisis as Roy warned her to not go on board when they are at Wichita Airport. However, June do not get the point cause Roy only said "something happened for a reason"
Griffin (March 7, 2011, P.439) stated Rapport Talk defined as "the typical conversational style of women, which seeks to establish a connection with others.". This means that women tend to focus more into connection while men focus on their status. In the movie, this can apply during June having a conversation with his ex-boyfriend to tell story regarding the plane crash and Roy who kill everyone in the airplane.
Griffin (March 7, 2011, P.439) also stated Report talk as "the typical monologic style of men, which seeks to command attention, convey information, and win arguments." This means men tends to avoid less talk in a public situation while in a private conversation, men tends to talk more to women, especially when passionate about something. In the movie, this can be applies when Roy telling June that her life would be in grave danger if she do not want to follow him.
As cited by Griffin (March 7, 2011), Tannen noted the fact that men tell more stories than women - especially jokes. Telling jokes is a masculine way to negotiate status. (P. 439). For example, When Roy and June having conversation on the airplane. June was impress with Roy story in telling her his adventurous plan.
Griffin (March 7, 2011, P. 439) cited that Tannen referred the uses of questions in men and women. Men and women used question in different approaches. For example, men did not ask questions in looking for directions when lost. They would prefer to find it on their own without asking for help and women will ask someone for help. In the movie, June asking for help after she felt Roy betrayed the FBI agency after she find out that Roy has contact with terrorist.
Conflicts as Tannen stated is how men and women handled an issue. To men, it is a contest and feels comfortable with it and initiates the conflict. To women, it is viewed as a threat to connection and need to be avoided. (Griffin, March 7, 2011, p. 441). By referring to the movie, the conflict can be seen when June was mad due to Roy change her cloths into bikini attire when she's not awake.
In conclusion, Genderlect is a term that suggested men and women are from two different cultures. This term studies the communication differences between these two genders. Both gender has different preferences according to few issues such as how they see a relationship, how they make connections over things, and so on. Few theories regarding genderlect from Tannen and Griffin suggested that, because both genders sees things differently, conflict happens all the time leading to misunderstanding and cross-culture.
References:
Griffin, Emory A (March 7, 2011). Genderlect Styles Theory of Deborah Tannen : A First Look at COMMUNICATION THEORY (8th ed.), New York, America: MCGRAW-HILL.
Ruiz, S., J., (2003) Género, Lenguaje Y Traducción. University of Valencia.
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