Comm 101-muted group theory

In chapter 35 the idea of muted group theory is explained with the differences in both men and women.  

I'd like to think that most cultures give women a chance for equality in voice, both in its value and worthiness.  But somehow I don't think its possible.  It's hard to believe that women in some parts of the world, and even here, don't have as much of a voice because, one, they probably aren't allowed to speak when they're husband is talking with other men, and two, the perception that just because "she's a woman" she wouldn't know anything about it mentality is still occurs.  I've seen it happen before where guys hang around with other guys and a women doesn't really linger around because for some reason she knows it's "guy time."

It could also be an expectation imprinted in our genetic codes where when a couple goes out to a get together, the guys will generally go and hang out with the other guys while the women congregate with the other women.  Not much quality time spent together I would say.  

My father is very much like this in a lot of ways.  Although there was someone who he kind of befriended as "just one of the guys."  She had just got hired on to his fire department and she was the only woman.  Naturally there were doubts about her abilities.  But he took it upon himself to teach her all the things he knew and he became best friends with her despite what everyone else thought.  He respects her for all the things she learned and could already do in the department.  In fact, he said that she could do a lot of things better than some of the other fire fighters.  She put up with all of his lame jokes and pranks and in turn she learned from an old-school firefighter like my dad.  Gender was never an issue with the two.  In fact, she was the only one he liked out of the whole department.  I still find this surprising of a story because my Dad has a chauvinistic side to him that doesn't stay dormant for very long.  But he does have his good moments.