Example Of Gender Differences In Korean Conversation Essay

Gender Conversations among the Koreans depend on various factors which include cultural background, marital status, environment of the conversation and even age. This hence implies that there will be variations on how people of different gender communicate when they are at a social gathering or work environment. The same is also reflected on whether a woman is a dressing a married man or the likes. People tend to change their language tone basing on whom they are talking to and the prevailing circumstances. For instance, there is a big difference on how women of the same age group will converse in comparison to when they are of different age groups. In this paper, we shall be focusing on the gender differences displayed among Koreans as they engage in different conversations. This will be done with the objective of determine the factors that make males and females use particular tones as they address each other.
Koreans and their approach to how they talk is based on their cultural background. Koreans adapt a language style that is mostly influenced by their environment. For instance, there are cultural environments where women are brought up knowing that the man is the overall authority and therefore has to be addressed with respect. It does not matter the class or status of the man they meet, knowing that they are subjects to the men makes them have a candid tone when addressing them. On the contrary, most women that have been brought up in urban settings tend to believe on the equality between men and women and the need for them to express themselves (Kendall 55). Such women may have been taught how to express themselves and hence having a rather authoritative tone when addressing their male counterparts.
Men and women have also varying attitudes towards marital status and hence influencing how they speak to them. There is a general need for those who are married to be addressed in simple direct terms yet the treatment may differ, basing on the experiences that people have. For instance, when in an office setting, communication between single and married people of different gender is done with much caution to maintain professionalism. This is mostly experienced between married men and their subordinates’ single counterparts. There is a stereotype that has been placed in the office where subordinates have to be treated with a stern tone to minimize on familiarity. However, when it comes married genders, the language is simpler and almost the same in all settings. A married man and a married woman are likely to adopt a simpler language with a moderate tone when talking to each other compared to a conversation that will involve members of the opposite genders with differing marital status.
Conversations in modern culture are changing drastically between genders even as women feel it is their time of empowerment. Women in modern and professional setting tend to address men with a stern tone. This is usually done in the process of affirming to them their position and the fact that they cannot be intimidated. The response from the men usually differs in relation to the intent of the conversation and what they will gain from it. This implies that a man who is a subordinate to a woman in a work environment will respond with a simpler tone. This will imply to the women that they are honored and respected. In most cases, the kind of response that is given in relation to the style of conversation will influence subsequent responses. A woman who approaches a man with a rather stern and bold talk will adjust the tone depending on how the man responds (Kim & Chungmoo 65). If the man responds with a tone that implies that the women is honored and respected, the woman will change and use easier tone.
Korean women will mostly vary their tones depending on the response they receive from the males. Compared to men who are driven by reason while engaging in conversations, women are more interested in relationship. Korean women will therefore vary their tone, depending on the relationship they share with the person they are conversing with, or the relationship they desire to develop. Men on the other hand are not driven by the relationship factor but rather what they want to achieve. Irrespective of the status and marital status of the women, a Korean man will approach a conversation tone that will make him achieve what they want. The men will therefore be ready to use a tone that will ensure they get the required favor. Women on the other hand tend to use many words, especially if they want to obtain a particular favor from a man. The first intention in a female conversation is to win the man through a relationship, the thereafter present their case. This may take a process or a procedure as the woman ensures that the man is in the right mood to extend the required favor.
Despite the environmental changes that are being experienced in Korea, there are certain aspect of speech and language tone that are synonymous with men and women. Irrespective of how much a man will adapt a candid tone to get what they need, in most cases they may never able to sustain such a tone for long when addressing a female counterpart. This is because of the deep rooted cultural believes that make them feel superior to the women and hence that desire to be respected. It hence makes the change abruptly immediately after they have received what they wanted. This has mostly been experienced in marriage relationships where women complain of a sudden change of events after getting married (Sohn 29). The remorseful tone that was used to win the women changes once the man has won the heart of a woman.
Women are also inclined into their traditional beliefs of having the man have the final say in their lives. Despite the respectable and high standing positions that women hold in their profession, it reaches a time when they crave for the male intervention in their situation. They realize that they are so much overwhelmed by their responsibilities, and hence look for advice from their male counterparts. The emotional nature of Korean women and their strong belief in relationships make them adopt strategies that will ensure they have a helping hand when they need it. This may not be expressed directly but be revealed with the kind or relationships they start establishing with their male counterparts.
There is also a tendency of women not having as much trust in their female counterparts in terms of positions, which is usually revealed through their conversations. Women in similar positions of high authority will have a different tone of conversation that is more relaxed compared to what the same women will have when addressing males in similar positions. The stereotypes held in their cultural backgrounds makes them feel that males in their similar capacity are more skilled for the positions compared to the males (Sohn 79). Therefore, when they need any form of assistance, they will approach a male counterpart with more confidence revealed through their conversations, compared the casual approach they will use while addressing females in similar capacity. A similar stereotyping is also revealed through males in similar positions. Men tend to have confidence in fellow men to carry out a responsibility which will be revealed through their conversations compared to how they approach a woman in similar responsibilities.
The varying differences that are displayed in speech and conversation clearly reveal that culture plays a great role in influencing the consistency of conversation. There are many more factors that have influenced the differences in tone and attitude, yet they are not as consistent as cultural stereotypes. This therefore implies that the attitude displayed in gender over the years have not changed much as each gender adapts a conversation tone that will help them obtain what they desire. There is usually a general change in tone, once the genders realize that what they are addressing is more serious than the camouflage they wear. We realize that the need for women to be respected and honored makes them adapt a stern conversation, which they may not be able to sustain. The clash for equality that is being demonstrated in the society is manifested in gender conversations. For Korea, the influence is yet to take shape as gender conversations experience bigger challenges in issues that concern cultural stereotyping of gender.

Works cited

Kendall, Laurel. Getting married in Korea: Of gender, morality, and modernity. Univ of California Press, 1996.
Kim, Elaine H., and Chungmoo, Choi, eds. Dangerous women: Gender and Korean nationalism. Routledge, 2012.
Sohn, Ho-min. "Intercultural communication in cognitive values: Americans and Koreans." 언어와 언어학 9 (1983): 93-136.
Sohn, Ho-rnin. "Strategies of Indirection in Language." Linguistics in the Morning Calm 2 (1988).