Men’s Talk and Women’s Talk
Some researches supports the idea that men and women are different.
Sometimes friendship between a man and a woman is not easy.
Maybe a man and a woman love or like each other, but they argue. They
Get angry. Later, they apologize, but it happens again and again. What’s the
problem? Is it funny?
Deborah Tennen says yes. Men and women are very different. Tennen
Teaches at Georgetown University. She writes books about the way people talk. She believes that men and women talk and think in differences in her book “ You just Don’t Understand.”
The differences begin when men and women are children. Very young boys and girls are similar to each other. In other word, they like the same things and play in the same ways. They aren’t very different. But then there is a change.
When children are five or six, boys usually play in groups. One boy gives orders. For example, he says “Take this,” “Go over there,” “Be on this team.” He is the leader. Boys also brag. In other word, they say good things about themselves. They do this to have a high position. Position in the group is important to boys.
Girls play in small or with one other girl. A girl’s “best friend,” her very good friend, is important to her. Girls don’t often give orders; they give suggestions. For example , they say , “Let’s go over there,” Maybe we should do this,” and “Do you want to play with that ? “Girls don’t usually have a leader , and they don’t often brag. They like to be in equal positions.
Little boys are usually active; they do things. Much of time, little girls sit together and talk. When children grow up, nothing really changes. Men usually do things together. Or they talk about activities such as sports, cars and world problems. They talk to give or get information. But for women, people and feelings are important. Women often talk to show interest or love. Although men and women have two different roles, but maybe can learn to understand each other if they understand their differences.
Reference : Adapt from an article in the “ Interaction Access.” Pamela, Harmann & James, Mental. Interaction Access Reading. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 1993.