Date of Award
1993
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Michael Castro
Second Advisor
Phoebe Cercio
Third Advisor
Michael Krammer
Abstract
Men and women have successfully cohabited for centuries; however, the fact still remains that men and women are different and, therefore, communicate differently. This fact is becoming blatantly apparent in our nation's organizations. It is imperative for the success of our country's organizations that men and women comprehend their own communication process and, more importantly, one another's.
The work force is changing drastically. It has been estimated that the number of traditional White American males entering the work force will be diminished substantially. In fact, women will comprise the largest portion of the incoming work force by year 2000.
In order for our organizations to flourish and grow, the traditional male dominated work environment needs to be modernized. The corporate environment can be brought up to date by first realizing that the employees that make up the work force are individuals that have individual needs. This realization is the basis for "managing diversity," a buzz word for the '90's and the management style of the future. Basically, this management technique is integrated with an androgynous tone treating all employees, male and female, with impartiality and fairness , but most importantly, as individuals with individual needs.
This culminating project provides insight on the communication process(es) that occur between men and women. For example, men tend to communicate as though operating within a hierarchical social order. They view conversations as negotiations while pursuing their independence. Women, on the other hand, communicate within a complex network of connections together. They want to establish connections while avoiding insolation. It's easy to see why miscommunication can and does occur: men and women are seeking different rewards from the same process. This project also provides a profile on "managing diversity." In order to create a work environment conducive to diversity there are basic communication skills that must be followed:
- Explicit understanding of the assumptions, norms and social techniques that form the basis of the managers own culture.
- The understanding of the manger's own biases and stereotypical assumptions about others and how these processes affect decision making.
- Interpersonal communication and listening skills geared to those from other cultures or the female worker.
- Awareness of the organizations unwritten rules of success.
- Team building skills with which to manage conflicts, develop cohesion, and enhance communication between all employees.
This project not only explores the communication process(es) of men and women, it provides an in-depth analysis on how women entering the work force will impact our nation's organizations. It also provides a guideline for "managing diversity" and how that management technique positively affects the communication process between men and women in our nation's organizations.
Recommended Citation
Bremerkamp, Dara Elaine, "How Men and Women Communicate" (1993). Theses. 347.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/347
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