GENDER DIFFERENCES IN EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION: A QUALITATIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF MALE AND FEMALE INTERACTION

Abstract

This study investigates gender differences in emotional communication using qualitative discourse analysis of naturally occurring interactions. Thirty recorded conversations among sixty university-aged participants were analyzed to identify patterns of emotional expression, interactional goals, and response strategies. The findings indicate that women demonstrate higher emotional explicitness and relational alignment, whereas men favor indirect expression and task-oriented responses. Mixed-gender interactions reveal asymmetrical emotional expectations that can lead to subtle misalignments. The study concludes that gendered emotional communication is socially produced and context-dependent, challenging essentialist assumptions and highlighting the strategic and adaptive functions of emotion in discourse. These findings contribute to sociolinguistic theory and provide practical insights for improving interpersonal, educational, and workplace communication.