Feminine Style in Communication

Scholars of political discourse argue that women have, because of a centuries-long relegation to the private sphere, developed a rhetorical style that tends to (a) be more personal in tone, (b) rely on personal experience, (c) be structured inductively, (d) invite audience participation, (e) address the audience as peers, and (f) identify with the audience's experience.

Male speech strategy, conversely, tends to (a) use deductive logic, (b) affirm expertise, (c) refer to expert authority, and (d) use impersonal examples that are not connected to audience experience.

A person's goal when using a “feminine” style of communication is to empower the listener to become effective or an agent of change. Further, the strategy is not exclusive to women and can be used by men. In addition, a more ...