Based upon what you read in the article, "Can't we Talk", by Deborah Tannen, how does gender socialization affect how we interact with others? How does it help shape our identity as men or women? Please share an example of a conversation you have had with a significant other or close friend or family member (or one that you have been a witness to) that is connected in some way to this article? What were some of your reactions to this reading?

Based on this article, we can conclude that gender socialization can have a large impact on how one gender interacts with another one. The way in which we talk, communicate and think about the world is influenced by the way in which we are socialized. This affects the way we relate to one another.

An example of this is gossip. Most people consider gossip to be wrong, but they also consider it to be a female trait rather than a male trait. The book suggests that women tend to use language more often as a way to build rapport and common ground. This spirit of cooperation could be behind the concept of gossip, as it allows women to establish tighter bonds with their community. I believe this has been my experience, as women often talk about people as a way to show interest in their lives and demonstrate that they are part of the same community.

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