Gender and Communication
Dr. Marcia D. Dixson
Building Bridges Between the Sexes
through Understanding of our Differences and Similarities
Questions to Guide Your Reading of Chapter 7
Beyond Friendship: Gender Communication in Romantic Relationships
1. Are there other reasons to marry besides love? Is love enough for a happy marriage?
2. Check out the work of John Gottman in Pyschology Today on Marriage Math. Do his claims about what predicts a successful marriage make sense to you? Why or why not?
3. Cyberworld: Can "real" romantic relationships develop online?
4. Describe each of the tensions your authors discuss: autonomy vs. connection; power vs. empowerment; acceptance vs. change. How can couples cope with these?
5. Is there a "good" way to break up with someone?
6. How can you talk about sex with a romantic partner? Is there a good time/place? Do you really need to have this conversation? Why or why not?
Suggestions for Mini-Project on Romantic Relationships
1. Have things changed regarding who is responsible for initiating first dates?
2. Do men and women define love differently?
3. Is there pressure in our society to marry?
4. How realistic is our media's protrayal of romance?
5. Are there positive media images for homosexual romance?
6. What are some relational currencies?
7. Are men more likely than women to see an interaction in
sexual terms?