How can we study gender through the lens of communication and communication through the lens of gender?


Men and women communicate differently, therefore the study of gender aids in understanding communication.
For example, women express their feelings, emotions and thoughts more freely than men. As previously studied in class, women communicate by incorporating their emotions into the conversation. Let's take a heterosexual couple, talking to their child about failing school. While a woman would be very emotional about the matter at hand, and tell the child how she feels, a man would simply say "you're grounded". Barely any emotions involve, short and to the point.

How is my service learning at The Center connected with gender and communication? It is connected in every single way and aspect of it. My service learning consisted of communication between different genders and predetermined societal gender roles.

For example, I encountered quite a few androgynous people at The Center, many effeminate men, and masculine women. It is nothing out of the ordinary there, because it is a safe haven for the LGBT community.

However, many people outside of the LGBT community, especially those who are more conservative, might find reversed gender roles wrong; and might be very uncomfortable around people who push the boundaries of what is predetermined by our society. My gender communications class frequently discusses how people are born the same but are greatly influenced by the media, and their culture and society, in molding their ideas and portrayals of their sex. 

Violence

Is violence a form of communication between people?

Yes sir, it is. I believe that it is very primitive way of communication, when people are unable to send their messages across in a productive and respectful manner. However I believe that violence between two intimate partners differs essentially from violence seen on the street. It is not just the obvious reason of where such violence takes place, which is usually behind closed doors of the intimate partner’s violence; it is also the whole cause of that violence is different.

Regardless of their causes and characteristics, both violence types are absolutely intolerable in any complex culture.

Unfortunately violence exists all over the world, in all kinds of different social groups. However whereas violence on the street has its causes in social depression, that within intimate partners it is usually a question of power problem with a huge problem of self expression. Such violence I believe is a reaction to a situation born of anger and frustration. It is usually happens when one partner feels that they are lacking something that is important to them, be it money, love, freedom or respect. And in order to gain that power, violence comes into picture. Unfortunately, women often end up getting more hurt in such situations simply as a result of their inferior size or physical strength.

Understanding the causes of intimate partner’s violence is essential in fighting against it. Even though causes of these two types of violence are different, it should in no way excuse those who commit violent acts towards their “loved once”. They should be treated the same way in front of the law as those who commit violence on the streets. Perhaps only then will the incidence of this type of violence be reduced.