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    58 views7 pages

    Fishman Interaction The Work Women Do 1983

    Uploaded by

    Shuxian Zhang

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    Te Ee cnc aoa Congr of Pes Sam i ey le) 19 Sona ond sc Pe nd dminan Sah 22 ncn uns 1976. Aileen het ch Inet vn EE Cnc os, Thess of he lagngea Ameren woe eeraric Han schouevlit).1979-Themdoyaflnoag nto end ‘np unin RC Hehe wert \en"Spec meson yon Silden Papers and Roo Cid Lagware ott Wim ton & Marin ers 1968 Empl mos thn of wera Ching In Woed Leman & shor Mai (ts) iret for Moral INTERACTION: THE WORK WOMEN DO* Pamela M. Fishman ‘The oppression of women in society san issue of rowing concer, both in academic fields and in everyday Ife. Despite research onthe historical and ‘conomic bases of women's position, we know litle about ow herachy it routinely established and maintained in daly experience, This esay analyzes conversations between women and men in thelr homes, demonstrating ow ‘verbal interaction helps to consruct and mainiin the hierarchical relations between men and women, ‘Weber(1969: 152) provided the classic conception of power asthe ait of fone actor ina social relationship to impose their wil on anther. Recently Berger and Lckmann (1967: 109) hve discussed power from s perspec which specifies an important way’of “imposing one's wll” on others They dine power asa question of potentially coictng definitions of reality ato ‘the most powerful wll be “made o stick.” Imposing one's will an be mach ‘more than forcing someone else to do something Power may also involve the ity to impose one’s definition of what i posible, what i ight, what is ‘atonal, whats real Powerisaprodutof human actives, justas the atin se themseives products of the power relations inthe socioeconomic world Power suallys analyzed macrosociologically; i caanobe solely a result of ‘hat people do within the immediate situation in which it ovurs, What people ‘inspect imeractons expresses and reflec historical and socal structural ‘ees beyond the boundaries of thei encounters, Power elation between men and women ae the outcome ofthe soll organization oftheir acts in he farne and inthe economy. Power can, however, be analyzed microsocioog ‘ally, which isthe purpose of this pape. Power and hieirhial relations ate "ot abstract ores operating on people. Power must be a human accompli. "ent, situated in everyday imeraeton. Both tucral forces and interact ‘etvties are vital t the maintenance and constriction of social rely, inclungHerrchies. Recent workon gender andthe English language shows thatthe male-female ‘ctarchy is inherent inthe words we uso perceive and name our world the use ‘the eneic*man”torefer tothe human species (Stale, 1977) the adtion "TMi se eon spews pn Scie Poon 1978, 25, 397-406. res (aor “ces” “stewards when refering 1 female ofa er & Sui, 1976: te soymetia te offs we est ston remorse ale the st men by thls even hen Tray ave of equal rank) (see McConnell-Ginet, 1978, for a full discussion). they we eres dovument the mae ominaed realy expressed ora ma an hasbeen dicted tomar how mal feale power saeco Sn ofeomersn! Tosomoenet slain andr sai, we need tore naa of he inractona so parca ety rough peopl’ tak Pronversational activity is significant for intimates. Berger and Kellner reeteduna presen wihhecensing separation of bic and 177 rie neat lasts are among the most portant a ang eings, They apy is egument special tomrigs. ‘ali fda nero nthe aia elas Healy ft een work nes relationships, inte mundane iterations, mich she ely ofthe world our nna olen reconst ir soe afenenes, pas ad present, wih one another. Specie, tbe “Seat ct and peda the Teal of lr own rlaonship, ad moe fen, tbe word “tiger an Kelner have nly arias asa ealiy-rodcig cca ey have st analyed the neracton of mariage pri or the En Sra negais which maybe involved in th featy-onstracion ps lo vom he rat cities hat ete rey wet done by mtimats andthe ifleren aces ofthe parts See Zac te theuph ns work tal people produce te relatos aeanaer tc elateshipto the word andove pater normaly fered ‘Sareaal ctr WORK IN INTERACTION? Sometimes we think of interaction at work. At a party or meeting wher® silene ies heavy, we fecogize the burden of interaction and respond toi ‘work The many books weten onthe a ofconersationalatenion the {ess involved in imeracton, It isntsmply an analogy tothinkofiteraction 8 work Rate, ic isan intiive recognition of what must be accomplished Toteraction requires atleast wo people. Conversation produced nti ty their presence ut also bythe dnpay oftheir continuing agreement 1 P= ‘sention tocne another. That all iteractons are potentially problematic 2 ‘ecu only trough the continual tur-by-tur, efforts ofthe participants Sscks and his followers (Sacks et al, 1974; Scheglof & Sacks, 1974; Schell, 1972) have sought to specify how converstionaists accomplish such things as beginnings and endings. They have ignored. however, the iron betwen nites. Shelf and Sacks (1974 262) characte iximates in home situations as “in continuing states of incipeet a" Thus, they contend tha their analysis of he atvies involved in opening and closing amversations, and in keeping conversation pong, do not apply to inmate vesations, But his perspective disregards the many conversations that do 1 be with tig nor end with sob Ione sess a mole With ‘ind, conversation afterwards doesnot begin anew with gretngs. Th sci aerials ocarand convertion usb api Inyeting which ‘eaversation is posible, atlemps at beginning sustaining, and stopping talk sill mst be made, And these aempts mast be recognized and olented to by ath parties for them to move Between laos of “inipent” and “actual” Ina sense, every remark or tum at speaking shouldbe seen a an attempt infers Itmay be an tempt oapen or lose a conversation. maybe abd to ‘contin interaction, to respond wo what went before, and elicit further remark from one's pariner. Some attempts succeed others fal. For an atempt to saccecd the other party must be wiling odo further interactional work. That ‘er person has the power to turn an atempt into a conversation or 0 sap i ead. DATA, Theat fois sy ome om fit. wo hours ape eorde comes ‘en eee aime nt tomes The btu coupe oped ise readers in air purine They had‘ pt Sete ‘ef heard ic The aparmonts were smalls at ree Pledpallonersaon othe hich sdvnguem a wel es er Frnt rom the bdrom anbath Tear couldn seh ‘od wot ier Though ha meso swich eae a ot ‘Monat all ve couples sed on dg te iting mana Toe ‘Upt fwinterpe eodig vom oe far aes The ee coupes had been oer fr varios tous fine —vee ‘rats tron and ens Allee we and presale, rete gs owen ive and rv One waa al worker ‘nS ore pl wen grat hs To te woe er eins and ne men av el the oer nema dese ‘Semselves as sympathetic to the women's movement. eS — pe cor were presen nt apres om forfour ed tht the mal eres tr cones tn round aware ofthe eore The aps sounded tle ie ator eveen ny band and npel Other whoa aes ans acre Alsi peopl reported th the soon began toignor the tape reorder $25 sb apps aout te mater calling val and nintrertng ja 2ESSinay ature of everday Me. Furthermore, one coule fro the ‘reste ue bein making lve nthe ving room while the recorder ‘Stn Thatsepment and twos were thon ones th paripants dled Thre handing the tapes over tome METHOD eee ee eee eaten aes Geller pees Se aera sees Ss ees nnea semen eames Sees a aire a St cet nina men ceamt Soe er eee ee oa ee es "rhe remaining sevens a rs er arsed wih 0 ate Peer areca Case cana PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE ‘Some evidence ofthe power relations betwen couples appeared wile wt sill nthe process of ellecting he tapes. During casual conersations wih + partcpant ster the taping | earn that nll hee couples the men wel ‘ecup the ape ecorders and turned them on and. More significantly 06°! the tes thatthe men tured the recorders on they did without the Wor nowledge. The reverse never occured. teat The Wor Women Do 93 To contol somerstion i not merely to show he pi Tis mae swing contol ovr the dfniton of he anon npc sh ae net ‘alsa willbe led bout bt whether er will sconveration sa ok Sater waters it wl ecu. Conover spc dea a anton eg beimporant The adtion af ape reorder in the home i an ckanpl of Share i routine station The men cary hd and acvely maloaoed Sela contol over his nw eat inthe senton "his researhalo asd ieo cally pvt nteracon becom raitleta hed pry. be rear Te men more eacnpged ek ne tps fo poste censoring. snd they mae he oly two adeno ee tt canol over the resenaton of he data ome, One easel thelehe? tare orally eorded when he recorers nell Since mote aon tne spent was enon hse ie fated nti ko el ty senseaf he conversations, know wien anew tine tepnent began Ore ton rly eased early al he slck onthe pes mang tea spa ou earings a erent tne pede ae wane toe “Sd te nce) ‘cond insane was x more ext lation of male cena Enipen Ima ror ofesking coupe toblptamerbessepnene it ‘The ror was doubly inst Flt Ie th tpn eal sy bea or unerstanl th poem ren any Dt een gh ‘tben“on the pr and wee hearing ove oien Second te noe ee ‘ating oka why was interested nthe segment epee eoerig rh ‘lating for. AC ibe time, only knew tat twas an example Sacto, ‘ling and aot now specially what | wane. He never asec hs {atone became aed a my continued temp mel tone ‘onindeptisising tate could vee the sense of what occured tnd ot ‘crac words were unimportant He cotiued te stcmpe dean ee ‘eng of the neractonreexpesiney, wth conan referees ‘méves saying this or tt Ton hours tooth fm te stanton at ‘ised on Sint me the ep hat had eget rlnnary ta supe thmon re moe ey hae nen to rtstcomeration. The men easured that thy knew en he tape need ‘Rus hes when tr itracon woe nae otf Ty ‘etoiceed bower beer he women alo Knew: Fries seek shy atenped wo cml my Inepeation of he apes FINDINGS: INTERACTIONAL STRATEGIES Teal eau rveled ow rca do he wrk of emenaton IEGAUE tay ofsoiopeto ne eormaps endorser ay mls ofthese sete women dimen ses ee tal betwen testes Comenaton more pee women, who work harder to make i happen. Talk seems less problematic For women we Te contol over wen and bow it wil occur. As these fines reat, tere ae specie ways wo se this inequality in ction at nee ae problems with generalizing frm three coupes to male: fea Somerton overall, 1 dos fora numbe of reasons rt ths work fete many ates for fre sod: Wil ter researchers ind the same ‘Ragen among other hterovexual coupes? Do these pater apes nother fate elton, hs bees and workers, teachers and students! Are here Neatmmale conversational dllerences in larger groups and are the pater re eae serene What will we find in vdeo-aped interactions? Second, Similac are based onthe conversations of tre coupes they ave a simed many times by my ova informal observations and by Tepors ee cr people oftheir experience inal, the ndings aehepfil Since the soe re que conc, they et be noticed in conversation They ae cuek MESES people nd particularly women, can igre out whats happening in thei own interactions. Asking Questions “There is an overwhelming difrence between female and male use of ‘ques cv aresourein interaction. Ames ft that all women id was ak ‘Reon. Inthe wansriptthe women asked twoanda half ies the questions thatthe men di “bine research (Lak, 1975) suggests that women ask more questions han soon Lak as interpreted women's question-aking a an indication of thet sre lingls signal fan internal psychological state resulting from the act momen. Buta psychological analy i unnecessary 1 explain Sern ark more questions than men. Since question are produce in ‘Wherscons, we shuld Took fist to how questions function there "Sucstns are ineractionally powerful trance. They ae among lass f sitguace’ ike greetings. refed ax standing in a pied relation that they stern e ae aterance. Questions are pared with answer (Sacks, 1972). ‘Troy deserve” answers. The absence ofa responses naticeable and may te qeekinied about A question does workin conversation by peninga wor, Cru sequence, I i a way Wo insure a misma interaction at lest one On eeyerenc of the tro participants. By asking questions, womet asnutnen te port ofa response to what they have to say ‘Gee had sted th phenomenon of questions onthe tapes, Latended tomy ome scuch and discovered the same pater. ied, and sil o ty, reas srt ne "habit ad found i very dificult, Remarks kept coming OU tr before could rephrase tem Whent did succeed in making eT etm en I arually oid not eta response. It became clear hat Task REAEN te merely ot of habit or rom insecurity but becuse it was ie? ‘hatmy attempt st interstion woud fil 1 didnot Fishman Interaction The Work Women Do 95, Asking “D'ya Know" Inline withthe sso tat chien beret ih oe rec of Haney Sas 78) doo pe of eon ed ‘Eemivly by crenata conversa opening “Da snow wh” As ‘ih eter qutstonn Kroes for atest trance. Te net Uraoe 8 tren te gutio, wich poe fr yt mther were Te ieyp "Dunn whee" Wha” "Bula aneer)" Soman STeoute hash anenerswithan expectant ok orastacment keel me ste ar eo ret, tl ps te a ow whats tee prt eqpece GA. rae an ae praequnce Q-Q-A,raerhan ase cis poitout that hides of ths devia clever wationo tir rb of ining ia o mea at he sae ie, thee fi Stacy scnowlodge ose rence i), Isesponse tothe Wha the ‘Bren nay ay wn they wanted a ayn ir place. ining ch ee seine nau mn wh sa et ranetngnuracton ra the diferent iis of percep Tis sacral tal oi cones to soa at tention innings ge Mey, Ge ort ef abla tat vont Te tnceg ee ee ees Ears eeor eames See SaaS Acie ncn Sees eres ae aes ‘Ecesing" an ints tow te wer cot same tht he Se caeu cesarean a er are ‘ingle-handedly to establish the interest of their remarks. The user is sa 3 arses aR eee eer ae os sensi Ws Safes oa caplic cdncPecs Spare eee Another teraction strategy is the use of the min amie ome tere aeten acter Seat manr a oe ohne manic eee 56 LANGUAGE, GENDER AND SOCIETY monosyllabic response merely filled tun at pot when needed toe file, For example, aremaa would make a lenghy remar after which the man responded withyea,” doing nothing to encourage her, nor to elaborate. Such ‘minimal sponses operate to discourage interaction. “The women also made this type of minimal response at times, but thei most feequent ase ofthe minimal response was as “support work" Throughout the tapes, when the men are talking. the women ar parculriy skilled at inserting “tums” yeah's," "ols" and other such comments throughout streams oftalk rather than tthe end, These ae sian fom the inserter tht she is constantly ‘tending to what sad that she demonstrating her partcpation, ber ntrest inthe interaction andthe speaker. How wel the women do this lo striking “sek do they mistime ther insertions and cause eve slight veraps. These tninimal responses occur between the breath ofa speaker, and theres nothing intone or structure to sugest they are attempting to ake over the take Making Statements Finally, 1 would ike to consider statements, terances that do nothing to incur their own successor the succes ofthe interaction Ofcourse statement docs some interactional work i fills a tara and provides for However, sch statements deplay an assumption onthe pat ofthe speaker hat the attempt wil be succesfl asi it wll be understood, the statement i of Interest there willbe a erponse. Its asifspeaerscanassumethat everything's ‘working well: sucess i naturally theirs Inthe transcribed material, the men produced over twice as many statements asthe women and thy almost always po a respons, which was notre forthe ‘women. For example: many times one or both people wee reading then read [ssrage alo or commented on it The man's comments often engendered & Tenay exchange, the woman's seldom din a discussion of thei respective vias, the man iterll ignored both on TOPIC INITIATION Women use many ofthese strategies so frequently because conversation sneally more problemi for them than for mea, This ean be sen by looking {what happen to the topics women and men introduce into conversation. considered an utterance tobe topic initiation if it addressed self 10

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