Aaron Devor Gender Behavior

After reading Aaron Devor’s article entitled “Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes”, there were many rhetorical situations with relevance to Sand’s essay on rhetoric. Throughout the article, there were several examples of where the author communicated to the audience effectively and made the purpose clear. According to Sand, “Rhetorical situation is one of the most important rhetorical concepts to learn because it is really about where the other rhetorical concepts (voice, audience, and purpose) and your use of the three modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, and logos) intersect to help you make informed decisions when you write.” Aside from discussing the gender roles of men and women, Devor attempts to explain why the concept of gender has become …show more content…
This theory suggests that children form their general identities from the association they develop from their culture. Devor states, “The patriarchal gender schema currently used in mainstream North American society reserves highly valued attributes for males and actively supports the high evaluation of any characteristics which might inadvertently become associated with maleness” (506). Likewise, Devor affirms, “Feminine characteristics are thought to be intrinsic to the female facility for childbirth and breastfeeding. Hence, it is popularly believed that the social position of females is biologically mandated to be intertwined with the care of children and a “natural” dependency on men for the maintenance of mother-child units” (506). Individuals observe the people and cultures around them, learning the various associations with masculinity and …show more content…
In culture, the sending and receiving of body language signals occurs on conscious and unconscious levels. Devor states, “Body postures and demeanors which communicate subordinate status and vulnerability to trespass through a message of “no threat” make people appear to be feminine. They demonstrate subordination through a minimizing of spatial use: people appear feminine when they keep their arms closer to their bodies, their legs closer together, and their torsos and heads less vertical than do masculine-looking individuals” (507). Additionally, verbal communication is the medium most commonly used between genders to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Communication styles of men and women differ dramatically. According to Devon, “Subordinate speakers who use more polite expressions and ask more questions in conversation seem more feminine. Speech characterized by sounds of higher frequencies are often interpreted by listeners as feminine, childlike, and ineffectual” (507). Aaron Devor concludes human posture and demeanor are accounted for gender role stereotyping and negative interpretations across

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