Gender and Communication in Context

Abstract

Gender is a pervasive aspect of social life. The gender category one belongs to may shape the clothes worn, the activities selected, the books and news articles read, or the roles played. It might also shape the language spoken, signed or written. These choices, habits and preferences are influenced, in part, by gender stereotypes and expectations. One consequence of the pervasiveness of gender performances is that in many contexts it seems to reflect fixed and stable gender differences in behaviour. In this chapter, we explore the topic of gender differences in language use. We consider how gendered behaviours, in particular those found in language and communication, are shaped by social expectations, stereotypes, and the need for social identity. We also briefly explore whether gendered communication styles might be shaped by biological bases. Our destination, so to speak, is the claim that gender differences in language use are contextual. Understanding how gender is done through language in different contexts tells us more about the social use of language than simply arguing whether gender differences do or do not exist.