Tonga
In Tonga, gender affects the way in which people communicate with respect to social status. Tongans are very respectful and kind to others. Communication between people is demanded to be equal and fair to each participant of the conversation, as said earlier. With a monarchial society, the social and political status of individuals is very important to Tongans and their culture. The society itself is complex. With a collectivistic society, the family and groups are imperative to life and existence. An individual is usually only seen as one of a larger group. Family is major factor in communication.
In the family unit, the father is above his wife in rank but below his sister. The oldest sister is a very important and powerful individual in the family. Older siblings have more rank over younger ones but sisters always come first. The eldest sister is given major responsibility and is required to do most of the house work. She practically raises the children and looks after the family. John W. Wolf, who has a Ph.D in Anthropology, journeyed to Tonga to observe the roles of women and the political economy. He observed, "Gender is cited most often as the primary element of social identity among Tongans." He also commented that, "females are central, males are peripheral." Gender has effected the way in which each individual must communicate to each other. In reference to communication, males, "deferred to their sisters and spoke softly and respectfully to them (and about them)."
Tongan weddings are a major part of the communication between families and gender. It is customary that the male must ask for the daughters hand in marriage from the father. Some of the islands today still practice the ancient traditions of Tongan society. This ancient practice which was practised by all of the islands is that the male would bargain for the wife by offering the father a price to show the value of the daughter. This can be observed from the movie Johnny Lingo. This 1969 film follows the journey of a Tongan boy named Johnny Lingo. He goes to one of the islands to bargain for a wife, Mahanna. The women of the island begin to boast about how many cows they had been offered from their husbands. The women say that Mahanna would be lucky enough to get one cow. Johnny goes to Mahanna's father and asks the price for his daughter. Moki, Mahanna's father, says three cows. But Johnny then says that three is not enough and offers an obscene amount of eight cows. This film accurately shows that Tongan's used to and sometimes do now to show their respect for the fathers of the house. This practice shows how gender affects the communication between families and the process for marriage.
In the family unit, the father is above his wife in rank but below his sister. The oldest sister is a very important and powerful individual in the family. Older siblings have more rank over younger ones but sisters always come first. The eldest sister is given major responsibility and is required to do most of the house work. She practically raises the children and looks after the family. John W. Wolf, who has a Ph.D in Anthropology, journeyed to Tonga to observe the roles of women and the political economy. He observed, "Gender is cited most often as the primary element of social identity among Tongans." He also commented that, "females are central, males are peripheral." Gender has effected the way in which each individual must communicate to each other. In reference to communication, males, "deferred to their sisters and spoke softly and respectfully to them (and about them)."
Tongan weddings are a major part of the communication between families and gender. It is customary that the male must ask for the daughters hand in marriage from the father. Some of the islands today still practice the ancient traditions of Tongan society. This ancient practice which was practised by all of the islands is that the male would bargain for the wife by offering the father a price to show the value of the daughter. This can be observed from the movie Johnny Lingo. This 1969 film follows the journey of a Tongan boy named Johnny Lingo. He goes to one of the islands to bargain for a wife, Mahanna. The women of the island begin to boast about how many cows they had been offered from their husbands. The women say that Mahanna would be lucky enough to get one cow. Johnny goes to Mahanna's father and asks the price for his daughter. Moki, Mahanna's father, says three cows. But Johnny then says that three is not enough and offers an obscene amount of eight cows. This film accurately shows that Tongan's used to and sometimes do now to show their respect for the fathers of the house. This practice shows how gender affects the communication between families and the process for marriage.
Australia
With respect to gender in communications, in Australia, there is much more equality between males and females in their communication. The way each gender interprets information is different. Males and females focus on different aspects of the conversation. In Australia particularly, when an individual is portrayed in the media, viewers judge a person according to the way they communicate their ideas, and this is different across the genders. For example, Julia Gillard became the first female prime minister of Australia. An author for The Conversation, a website aimed at informing readers of about news and currents affairs affecting Australia, discussed the issues of gender effecting how Julia Gillard's communication style is perceived. The author, Jennifer Peck, says, "Reaction to Gillard's communication style also appears to be divided along gender lines, with males being concerned about her accent, and females commenting on her relative 'detachment.'" Peck explains that men focus on different aspects of the former Prime Minister's communication and assess whether to trust her. The females focus on they way in which Miss Gillard seem unattached to her arguments whilst the men focused on how she said things. "It appears that the gender of the audience is a relevant factor," says Peck.
Australia's culture is very punctual and individualistic. In Australian societies, people tend to separate their different environments, such as separating work and home life. Therefore men and women communicate differently when they are in different situations. Australia has a very laid back culture, and have a lack of hierarchy. This means that in communication, there is no rank. Generally, status is determined by ones employment but this does not determine who one is allowed speak to.
Australia's culture is very punctual and individualistic. In Australian societies, people tend to separate their different environments, such as separating work and home life. Therefore men and women communicate differently when they are in different situations. Australia has a very laid back culture, and have a lack of hierarchy. This means that in communication, there is no rank. Generally, status is determined by ones employment but this does not determine who one is allowed speak to.