Email, Gender an Relationships
The chapter talks a lot about who men and women are talking to, but doesn’t thoroughly discuss why they’re talking to these people. It addresses the different kinds of communication typical of each gender, but only touches on the relationships associated with men and women. On page 383-384 they say that woman started communicating with their cousins, then parents while men did it the other way around. It also talks about their communication with children and inlaws. But it seems to me that women were more likely to have better relationships with different members from the beginning, so they wouldn’t need to develop relationships with the same people as their male counterparts. I know, that in my family anyway, my mom got in touch with all kinds of long-lost relatives because she talked to her sisters and closer family members all the time as it was. but my dad has to initiate these relationships, so started with those he should have been close with from the begining. Has anyone else noticed a similar trend?
In my family, I have been the one initiating email contact, mostly because I hate talking on the phone, and I really don’t have time for it. It is interesting because my mom will email back–my dad rarely does, yet when I do talk to him on the phone, he talks as if he has read every email in between. So, my dad is keeping up, but just not inserting himself in that email conversation.
In my immediate family, my husband is much more likely to use the phone to keep in contact with his siblings and friends, and I use email. He prefers talking and thinks I am nuts.
Comment by karen — October 25, 2005 @ 1:12 pm
Reading the article I was interested that women use the internet more than men, but then it doesn’t surprise me. I email people more than any of my guy friends, and when I do the girls are far more likely to email me back. The same is true with saying in touch in general with me as well. I guess I just like to talk more than my male friends do.
Comment by Catherine — October 26, 2005 @ 11:21 pm