The Gender Communication Handbook: Conquering Conversational Collisions between Men and Women

CHAPTER 8

Final Thoughts on Reaching Across the Gender Divide

There should be no sense on reading this that one style is better, more logical, or more socially useful than another; both, and mixtures of both, are needed in different circumstances. Women must be more flexible—and so must men.

—Robin Lakoff (1975, p. 83)

Learning Objectives

• Provide different options for closing the training program.
• Review what participants learned about women’s and men’s communication styles.
• Move forward using a code-switching and androgynous communication style.

Introduction

The closing of the seminar presents an opportunity for the facilitator to review the program’s key learning points, emphasize the choices participants have to create change, and identify ...