9-7-07 Henley and Freeman. The Sexual Politics of Interpersonal Behavior. Pg. 84-92. Rachel Seaton

Henley, Nancy & Freeman, Jo. The Sexual Politics of Interpersonal Behavior. Pg 84-92.

Description:
• Social interaction, through verbal and nonverbal messages serves to distinguish and enforce the roles of superiors and inferiors, specifically males and females. (pg. 84)

Analysis:
• The environment contributes to these roles through advertisements depicting women as inferior. (pg 84-85)
• The terms used to address individuals in a given interaction can signify status with the superior using the familiar term and the inferior using the polite term. (pg. 85)
• Demeanor is determined by differences in power, status, and dominance. (pg 86)
• Women and men have different "display rules" regarding the amount of emotion they can display. Through increased self-disclosure, which is characteristic of women, another's power is enhanced. (pg. 87)
• Touching and holding another's gaze imply dominance and are usually initiated by a person of greater status toward a person of inferior status. (pg. 87-89)
• Gestures of submission are socially accepted for women. (pg. 90)
• Relationships or sexual interactions generally produce inequality due to nonverbal expressions. (Pg. 91)

Vision:
• In order to make changes to the messages being conveyed by social interactions, more people need to be aware of how verbal and nonverbal messages can be perceived as showing dominance or submission. (pg. 91)

Strategy:
• Women need to monitor their nonverbal messages such as gestures in their interactions with men to determine if they contradict with their intentions. (pg 91)