Communication Between Men and Women

For years, people have debated the differences between genders, but this month, we have decided to take these questions into the missions realm. Together, we have been asking whether gender plays a key role in how we approach world outreach—and if it doesn’t, should it?

We looked at what researchers are saying about gender differences as well as how these theories carry over from culture to culture. And here are a few questions that have popped up along the way:

•Is gender-based evangelism an effective format for outreach?
•If gender differences do exist, can we really apply research findings to cross-cultural ministry?
•What role should gender play in how we approach others with the gospel?

But what we have not yet asked is how our evangelism efforts might change if we allowed gender to take the front seat. This week, we’ll do just that as we dive into communication, evangelization, and the sexes.

Week #3: “Communication between men and women can be considered cross-cultural communication.” So how might we prepare for this type of “cross-cultural” evangelism experience, even if it’s to a neighbor across the street?

Many people note that one of the key differences between men and woman is how they communicate. One report summarizes these variances, noting that:
•“Men and women express themselves in different ways and for different reasons. Men use communication to maintain independence, while women talk to maintain intimacy.”
•“Men talk more in public while women talk more in private.”
•“While women typically use nonverbal communication directly, men use it indirectly. Women stand in close proximity to each other, maintain eye contact, and gesture more frequently. Men hold their distance, rarely establish eye contact, and gestures less dramatically.”
•“Men and women also handle conflict differently. While women avoid conflict in order to insure closeness, men use conflict to gain status.”

The author of this report goes on to say that “differences in the way men and women communicate affect all relationships: husband-wife, father-daughter, mother-son, employer-employee, and pastor-member. In fact, gender communication differences are also obvious in the church.”

So should we integrate these communication differences into evangelism efforts? If so, how? Do we begin to have men reaching out to men only and vice versa? Or can God’s message still be communicated with cross-gender outreach?

Please share your thoughts and unique insights.