These features of women’s speech all seem to be ways of inviting agreement with an idea rather than asserting it. Men tend to use more assertive forms and “strong” language (It’s too damn cold in here!). Other researchers have pointed to a preference among women, in same-gender groups, for indirect speech acts (Could I see that photo?) rather than the direct speech acts (Gimme that photo) heard more often from men in same-gender groups. It is important to pay attention to the concept of “same-gender” talk in describing features in the speech of men and women because much of our socialization takes place in such groups.