Looking at U.A.E Boys and Girls Written Discourse

Introduction Writing is a medium of various thoughts and feelings. This research presented observations of the differences between boys and girls in delivering the same message in both formal and expressive pieces. The research investigated how girls and boys in seventh grade write differently in informal pieces, how they write differently in creative (personal) pieces, and how teachers can use different types of writing to evaluate and direct creative writing instruction. Literature Review Introduction to Gender Differences Gender and sex have occasionally been confounded and may be seen as one. Butler (1990) explains that gender is not determined at birth; instead it is something we perform. Sex, simply, is being a male or a female based on biological traits. Gender exaggerates these biological differences to the point that each gender has its culturally-specific stereotype (Eckert, 2003). In other words, sex is a physical attribute, whereas gender is something that is developed. Language, culture and society interact to give members of both genders different levels of power and recognition in society. The different ways in which boys and girls are socialized has significant ramifications on how they communicate as adults because this encoding of social behavior is carried into adulthood. Gender roles develop such that there are distinctive differences in the communicative and social styles of males and females. According to Tannen (1995), males and females speak differently as if they had grown up in two separate subcultures. Both males and females have distinctive styles: it is society's role that interprets how males and females talk, walk and interact to denote meaning. Even if boys and girls are raised in the same neighborhood or house, the language used in conversation with both genders is different. In addition, society designs the role gender plays according to cultural and economic background. This distribution of roles starts with the birth of the child. From the time of birth, society starts embedding certain behavior patterns and values that are suitable to society members, starting from baby talk and the color of clothes to establish certain rules such as Boys don't cry. An example of age and gender roles is found in society. Elinor Ochs (cited in Tannen 1994) points out that the boys in a Kaluli community learn to hit girls because husbands hit wives and the society members learn about female roles from observing their mother talking and interacting in their own families, especially with children. Moreover, children learn their role in play and react to it at an early age. Children learn what is allowed and forbidden in practicing their role in society and inside their homes. Mothers teach stereotype to their children through verbally guiding and manipulating them in a variety of interactions that focus on the ways in which they play, dress, and act (Schieffelin, 1990). Moreover, Tannen (1990) affirmed how both genders spend more time playing with the same sex group even though they play together. The language used across gender in play is distinguishable. Boys' games have winners and losers. Their play is highly hierarchal and structured. The leader in boys' games gives orders about when and how other group members should play. In contrast, there are no losers and winners in most girls' play like house or school. Even if one girl thinks that she might have a better idea, she would not show it. Girls also rarely brag about their achievements (Tannen, 1990). Children also learn what manner of expression is acceptable for their gender; boys imitate the males and are careful not to pick up womanly traits. Children learn to be sensitive in acquiring gender specific vocabulary and probably dialect (Bradly, 1998). How Males and Females Are Different Linguistically The differences in linguistic style between males and females have been studied extensively; Trudgill (1972) and Lakoff (1973) are some early examples. …