The Myth of Mars and Venus

by Deborah Cameron

"A thriving industry of self-help manuals and popular science books has grown up in the last fifteen years, all based on the assertion that there are fundamental differences in the way that men and women use language to communicate. Whether the reason given is nature, nurture, or planet of origin, the 'Mars and Venus' story is widely accepted. But, asks Deborah Cameron, 'Why do so many people find it convincing?'" "Drawing on the findings of more than thirty years of academic research, Cameron dispels the myths to tell a much more complicated - and satisfying - story, and shows how selective and inaccurate is the picture presented by many popular writers. She also demonstrates that popular assumptions about 'male-female miscommunication' can have far-reaching consequences in many areas of life: for example, attitudes to sexual violence or discrimination in the work-place."--Jacket.