Courses

People often resist claims that “men are this way,” and “women are that way.” But as concepts of what it means to be feminine and masculine fluctuate in today’s society, many of us are left feeling increasingly unsure how to communicate and interact with each other in work and social settings. This course examines the complexity and nuance of communication in modern society, and ways to navigate those often “troubled waters.”

We will start by looking at assumptions about socially approved behaviors, attitudes, personality traits, and communication practices of each gender, including listening habits, the use of certain phrases and metaphors, humor, and nonverbal communication such as clothing and body language. Then we will examine the different ways men and women interact and approach challenges, such as when asking for a raise, negotiating a sale, interacting with friends, navigating power and status differences, addressing interpersonal conflicts, and inhabiting a leadership role. With those trends and tendencies in mind, we will actively explore our own individual styles of communication in a practical, workshop-style setting through the use of videos, discussion, role-playing, and class assignments. Students will come away from the course with a greater understanding of their own and their counterparts’ communication styles, and with a repertoire of skills for navigating today’s complex work and social environments.