Understanding Gender Identity and Communication Styles
Gender Identity and Communication Styles
This document explores the concepts of gender identity and communication styles.
Gender Identity
Gender identity refers to the social and personal characteristics of being a man or a woman. It is distinct from biological sex.
- Gender Dysphoria: A condition where one’s gender identity does not align with their biological sex.
- Travesti: A broad term for individuals who may dress or present themselves in the gender of the opposite sex.
- Drag King/Queen: For entertainment purposes.
Gender Roles
Gender roles are the social norms that dictate what is considered appropriate behavior for men and women.
- Traditional Female Role Socialization:
- Negative: Less income, feminization of poverty, higher risk for sexually transmitted infections, negative body image, less material satisfaction.
- Positive: Longer life expectancy, stronger relationship focus, maintaining relationships, bonding with children.
- Traditional Male Role Socialization:
- Negative: Synonymous with occupation, limited expression of emotions, fear of intimacy, custody disadvantages.
- Positive: Shorter life expectancy, positive, freedom of movement, greater pool of potential partners, norms of intimacy in a relationship.
Communication Styles
Communication styles differ by gender. Women tend to be more emotionally expressive, while men often focus on winning conversations.
- Nonverbal Communication: Eye contact, body posture, tone, volume, and rapidity of speech.
- Common Defense Mechanisms:
- Escapism: Denial or withdrawal from a problem.
- Rationalization: Cognitive justification for one’s behavior.
- Projection: Attributing one’s feelings to a partner.
- Displacement: Shifting feelings onto someone else.
- Healthy Communication: Make communication, establish and maintain eye contact, ask open-ended questions, use reflective listening, use “I” statements, use soft emotions.
Sources of Sexual Values
Sexual values are influenced by various sources:
- School
- Religion
- Family
- Technology
- Television
- Social Movements
- Internet
Relationship Dynamics
- Dishonesty in Relationships: Outright lies, exaggeration, concealment of the truth.
- Sexual Fulfillment: Self-knowledge, self-esteem, a good relationship, positive motives, open sexual communication, and feedback.
- Social Exchange: Balancing negative statements with positive ones.
- John Gottman: Predicts which couples will last.
- Sources of Relationship Conflict: Behavior, cognition and perception, value differences, unconscious rules, leadership ambiguity.
- Conflict Styles:
- Competing Style: Both partners force their way.
- Collaborating Style: Both cooperate and respect each other.
- Compromising Style: Both find a middle ground.
- Avoiding Style: Avoiding conflict.
- Accommodating Style: The goal is to rise above the conflict.
- Parallel Style: Both partners deny the conflict.
- Sharing the Past: Optional.
- Forgiveness:
- Pseudo-Forgiveness: Seeking justice.
- Forgiveness: Letting go.
- Klein and Kintzen: Klein’s categorical scale offers more understanding of sexual activities and orientation.
- Gottman’s Four Horsemen:
- Criticism
- Contempt
- Defensiveness
- Stonewalling