men talk for the same reasons that men stop talking quite often. Men hate to be pitied and that presents a problem since it is difficult for a man to understand the difference between empathy and sympathy. Women offer a lot of empathy when in hope that they are being of help. Regardless listening requires practice. "Little changes can be made without sacrificing who we are," (Gray, 84). Just by changing a few phrases, relationships can be improved dramatically, but it requires effort from both sides. Men and women almost need to be retrained in my opinion to be able to communicate better. There are certain traits that are so inherent in our society that changing would be difficult. Men are taught at an early age not to cry for instance and are thrown into a world that is competitive. Women are nurturing and are taught to have compassion. The "female" communication style is intimate and relationship oriented as where the "male" style is independent and hierarchical, (Professor Umana, Lecture June 5, 2000). With such conflicting styles, a compromise must take place somewhere along the way in order to form successful relationships. In negotiations, understanding what each gender is actually saying will help get to the true interests of both individuals and facilitate in coming to an agreement.Avoiding argumentsMen and women can find any subject to argue over. Whether it is about money, children, or other responsibilities, there is always room for conflict. Men do not like that women complain, worry extensively, expect things from him, and try to read his mind. Women do not like when men, minimize them, forget to do things, blame them, or raise his voice. Men and women need to refrain from feeling the need to argue about such topics. "Most arguments escalate when a man begins to invalidate a woman's feelings and she responds to him disapprovingly. Women unknowingly start arguments by not being direct when they share their f...
