Reading Questions
Chapter 3: Gendered/Sexed Voices
Instructors are provided with two sets of questions to engage students: discussion questions
(in the text) and reading questions (below).
1. Can you think of a time when you violated a conversational rule? How did people
respond?
2. What assumptions does society hold about how politeness is gendered/sexed? How are
these assumptions misleading?
3. What assumptions does society hold about how humor is gendered/sexed? What is
misleading about these assumptions?
4. What assumptions does society hold about how swearing is gendered/sexed? What is
misleading about these assumptions?
5. What stereotypes do you hold about gay and/or lesbian conversational styles? Why might
these stereotypes be problematic?
6. What are the flaws with linking demand/withdraw patterns to traditional gender roles?