The other party can not speak until the first has completed. This way no one can be interrupted and both sides can be heard.InterpretationThe phrases that men and women use are often interpreted differently depending on which gender is speaking. An example of this would be with bragging. Girls are taught not to boast or brag because this displays that they are better than their peers are. Boys learn that by achieving a high status that they can obtain what they want. Another study done by Patricia Hayes Bradley brought forth similar results. It deals with "tag questions" which are statements with little questions added onto the end. The results showed that when women used tag questions they were seen as less intelligent than men that used them. When women did not give support for their arguments, they were also seen as less knowledgeable. But when men advanced arguments without giving support, they were not, "Tannen, 228). In mediation, many open-ended questions are used. These are similar to what are known as tag questions. In pertaining to this topic, mediation would better serve women because there would be less room for judgement of language by other people. In front of a judge or a jury, language can be a setback for women. In front of your partner, or mediator it can only help equalize discussions. That is not saying that under these circumstances, men can not benefit as well. For men in mediation, women will be less apt to feel dominated and interpret discussions differently to help expedite the process.AsymmetryEach topic considered above brings us to the bottom line that men and women live asymmetrical lives. The challenge is how to travel past it. Gender inequalities begin in the home, at an early age. As time goes on, the alignment of men and women are "epitomized by the positions that they take," (Tannen, 284). Even in the most intimate moments she explains, when lying down to sleep, a man usually lays on h...
