Are women better than men at verbal tasks?

Question

I've noticed most guys have trouble writing long, complex yet still coherent sentences. Women seem to be a lot better at that (I used work as a university instructor). Then, overall, the level of nuance (connotations and second meanings) given by women in a conversation is a lot richer than that among men.

Are women overall superior to men in the handling of language?

PS: I mean overall; I acknowledge some men are better at it than most women.

I could teach a class in sociolinguistics, if I wished to.

But I don't want book knowledge: I want to hear personal experiences.

I mistrust my own judgement because I'm educated--in other words, I'm all too aware that women are supposed to be better than men at verbal tasks, that's why I may have a strong bias already.

I'm asking for anecdotes, for what other people have to say.

Answer 1

in some ways yes and others no. i think we are far better at expressing ourselves "emotionally" . we are constantly trying to express our emotions every chance we get. whether we are discussing second meanings, writing essays or singing a song, we often come from what we are feeling withing. I do believe that is why our "answers" tend to me more elaborated. for example: In my sociology class, we are reading this book and our professor asked "why do u think johnny bought his girlfriend white carnation flowers, and his mistress red roses?" my professor asked a boy in our class and his answer was "because he likes the mistress more" when a girl raised her hand, her answer was 3 minutes long! she began speaking from experience rather than just simply answering the question. (see what im saying? most women are emotional speakers.) i hope this makes sense to you!

Answer 2

It always surprises me when I see someone, supposedly educated, so ignorant of the findings of modern science. On average, the verbal behavioral superiority of women is old hat. I suggest you go to your local bookstore and peruse the science section. The science of human behavior, from an actual scientific perspective, is way ahead of you.

PS I do not care how many classes on sociolinguistics you can teach when you ask for anecdote over data you mark your self as the social scientist you are. There is a good article in the 2006 " The Best American Science and Nature Writing ", by Larry Cahill, a neurobiologist. It is called, " His Brain, Her Brain " and has the latest findings in science. As I always advise people in this section; get real and get with science!

Answer 3

If the verbal task requires convincing or expressing opinion, then women run the show, which I think works out very well in our case(mens). If the task requires clarity, brevity, and to the point explanations of something, then men have the upper hand. Both are equally important, and both have their pros and cons.

Answer 4

Probably. One of the few sex difference that have been found t be true rather than myth or the superiority at some ages of women on some tasks. But you can't generalize. The greatest writers have been men, be that through culture or talent or the effects of prejudice. Its hard to think of a top notch women writer historically. Who? Virginia Woolf maybe?

Answer 5

Women are more capable of multitasking. men are more focused on one task. This could effect a mans ability to handle suble nuances of language. Men tend to do better in math and science.

Men and women are definitely not the same.

Answer 6

If you ever took a writing course they would have told you to express the idea as clearly as you could in the least words.
YABBADA SEEBADDA YABBADDA = f.u.

Answer 7

Only because we get a lot more practice...