Language and Gender - Is there a gender gap in language?

Exploring the historical belief in sex differences in communication, this seminar paper examines various linguistic theories, including Robin Lakoff's concept of "women's language," which suggests that women's speech is inherently less powerful. It discusses the impact of early childhood socialization on language use and the assertiveness training movement aimed at addressing women's communication challenges. Additionally, it contrasts the two-cultures approach, proposed by John Gumperz, with more recent findings by Elizabeth Aries and Mary Crawford, emphasizing the greater similarities between male and female communication.