Gender differences in communication styles and their influence on workplace communication and the practice of public relations in the United States

Abstract

This thesis will examine gender differences in communication styles and their influence on workplace communication and the practice of public relations in the United States, specifically, Minneapolis and St. Paul (Twin Cities), Minnesota. In this study, existing literature is contextualized within four theoretical frameworks of public relations theory, liberal feminist theory, gender studies and power-control theory and introduces key concepts such as public relations, gender, gender communication, communication styles, feminism, power, intersectionality, social constructionism and performativity. Research questions were examined through 40 qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with public relations professionals. Results suggest that significant factors such as gender, stereotypes, communication styles and ageism influence how men and women communicate in the workplace within the public relations industry. In addition, performativity in public relations, women taking on male traits to be successful, levels of power and inequality within leadership positions, work/life balance for mothers and diversity, inclusion and intersectionality in the workplace are all significant as they pertain to the relationship between workplace communication and the practice of public relations.