Culture Bridges: Week#9 - Gender Components of Cross Cultural Communication

Core Question

What role does gender, age, and other demographic differences play in intra-cultural communication and cross-cultural communication?

Discussion Questions (part 1)

Who do you enjoy communicating with more - men or women? Why?
With which gender can you better connect (understand each other)? Why?

What differences/challenges have you experienced in communicating with people of the opposite gender (family, friends, co-workers, etc.)?

What have you noticed about how homogeneous groups of men and groups of men communicate differently?

In your experience, how do men and women approach these aspects of communication differently?

- apologizing

- arguing

- giving compliments

- solving problems

- interrupting
- eye contact
What are some other non-verbal differences in communication styles between men and women?

In what ways do you communicate in an typical fashion for your gender? In what ways don’t you?

Discussion Questions (part 2)

How much do you agree with the various points made about gender-based differences in communication styles in the readings and videos we saw. Which ‘ring true’? Which don’t?

How do you communicate differently when interacting with a man or woman of your own culture?
How do you communicate differently when interacting with a man or woman of a different culture?

Do you think there is a generational component to gender-based communication differences?
(e.g. is they way you communicate with the opposite gender different than your grandparent ?)

What have you noticed about culture based differences in gender communication styles?
(e.g. Korean women vs. Western women, Busan men vs. Seoul men)
Are there any particularly Korean aspects of gender differences in communication styles?

How much do you think the gender differences we’ve discussed are universal (common to every culture)?

Do you think certain cultures have a more masculine or feminine style of communication than others? Can you think of examples?