GenderSpeak: Personal Effectiveness in Gender Communication

by Diana K. Ivy, Phil Backlund

Personal Effectiveness in Gender Communication is an examination of the attitudes, gender identities and stereotypes that characterize communication in relationships, with the ultimate goal of improving communication between the sexes. Focused on communication about as well as between women and men, this practical and readable text connects material to readers’ every-day lives. GenderSpeak provides a balanced approach to the study of gender communication, presenting current research and a variety of perspectives and sources, while avoiding slant or bias.

Genres: Female Authors, Feminism, Nonfiction

414 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2003

Reviews

[Jared Kassebaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I, surprisingly, thoroughly enjoyed this textbook for a college class. Reading it was very enlightening for modern gender theory and helped me understand, although still disagree with at times, the overall view that gender is more an aspect of personality than a birthed trait. I only wish the term hadn't been re-defined over the last few decades, it would have caused much much less confusion for the younger generations when disagreeing with the old, who were taught gender and sex as synonyms. Can we blame either generational divide for being taught these conflicting definitions?

[Kendra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book is very biased.

[Pandanator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro to gender communications, and feminism, though there were some weaknesses.

[Twofrontteethstillcrooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a newer edition to this available but this version had already been vetted by busy prof and was cheaper to rent anyway. Not bad; hopefully newest version and subsequent versions will have a decent number of revisions in light of rapid social change in the US (e.g. the growth of conversations around/in LGBTQIA+ communities, #MeToo, etc.).

[Lenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to purchase this book for a college class, and could hardly bear to read it. It was incredibly biased, and I would even go as far as to say it offended me. I am a strong supporter of equality of all kinds, but this book did not have a level-headed approach to equality whatsoever. It is an utter disgrace. Ivy hints at having a fair and unbiased opinion to things left and right in Genderspeak, but on almost every page I see some form of putdown toward men, subtle or not. I cannot believe this was even published. Diana Ivy, stop embarrassing yourself and choose another career. You are clearly not fit to be a writer.