MYTH 6

WOMEN TALK TOO MUCH

Janet Holmes

THE EVIDENCE

Most of the available evidence suggests just the opposite.

Women sometimes find it hard to contribute asmuch as men to a discussion.

There is abundant evidence that this pattern starts early

LOOKING FOR AN EXPLANATION

Why is the reality so different from the myth?

What is the purpose of the talk?

Different function in different contexts

• talking formal to persuade people ( political speech, television debates, public lectures, etc).• public talk is undertaken by people who want to participate in contexts which enhances their status. • classroom: talk is associated with higher social status or power.• men dominate the talking time in committee meetings, staff meetings, seminars.

Different function in different contexts

• private contexts: serves interpersonal function ( establishing social contact, maintaining, developing and reinforcing friendship)

• kind of talk: different utterances women contribute with supportive in which encourage others to contribute/ men tend to contribute with information and opinions.

Informal talk

Social confidence

• know about the topic (regardless of gender)• women tend to talk much with close friends

and family when they are the majority.• when women are invited to talk (interview)