Tannen&Pipher Comparison

In Deborah Tannen's article about debate and dialogue she focuses at a certain point on the differences between the comfort level of arguementation between genders. Women and girls prefer to discuss ideas instead of argue or attack the idea. Men and boys tend to participate in debates more frequently than girls, at a young age they are taught to compete. However, later Tannen state that girls can defend there ideas argumentattively as well, and can be very competitive. "Clealry, women can learn to perform in advesarial ways. Anyone who doubts this oneed only to attend an academic conference in ithe field of women's studies or feminist studies[...]" (240). It is best to think that most women prefer discussion that does not mean they can not debate.

In Piphers article it shows women as victims of academic neglect. "In classes, boys are twice as likely to be seen as role models, five times as likely to recieve teachers's attention[...]" (279). Women are guided by society to take subject that have more to do with discussion and building relaionships with others. It is implied that the academic acheivements of girls are supposed to be inferior to those of boys.

Both artciles show that women are steered by social groups such as, the education system, to be social. Girls have a tendency to be concerned with other issues such as acceptance or beig preoccupied with other thoughts. Both articles also imply that women are taught not to question or challenge authrity, therefore, are not as inclined to speak out against it.