“Gender affects
persuasion because men and women have always been very different from each
other” (COM323, Spriggs, T., 2011). “Men are more straight and to the point
with little emotion involved, and women are more nurturing and empathic” (COM323,
Spriggs, T., 2011). It is also affected by perception of status and social
roles in the aspect that “men are more often the provider and women the
homemaker” (a couple of decades ago this was the norm) (Seiter & Gass,
2004, p. 135). Since it was such a social norm now women are still perceived in
this manner, in turn, women are considered to have a low-status role (Seiter
& Gass, 2004, p. 135). “It is hard to influence someone if “she” has a low-status
role” (COM323, Spriggs, T., 2011).
On the other hand,
for example, “women and men attempt to influence others by speaking either in a
competent manner or in a less competent manner” (Seiter & Gass, 2004, p.
135). In a study, men could speak in a competent or in a not so competent and
still influence someone, whereas, women had greater results speaking
competently (Seiter & Gass, 2004, p. 135). “Finally, besides competency, a
woman’s influence depends on her empathy, and whether or not she asserts her
status” (COM323, Spriggs, T., 2011).
Reference
Seiter,
John E., and Gass, Robert H. (2004), Perspectives on Persuasion, Social
Influence, and Compliance Gaining, Boston,
Massachusetts: Pearson Education,
Inc
