The difference model

• The difference model suggests that women and men use language differently, neither is more superior than the other
• theorist Tannen suggested 6 ways which men and women communicate differently ;

  advice vs understanding

  conflict vs compromise

  independence vs intimacy

  infomation vs feelings

  orders vs proposals

  status vs support
• Theorist Coates found all male conversations are competitive in nature, and all women conversations are more co-operative
• Theorist Howe suggested that men and women play different roles in conversations, men are active participants who are keen to express their opinion and women are passive listeners who are more likely to agree with what they hear
• Hyde suggests the gender similarities hypothesis which states there are more similarities than differences between genders and their use of language