8. Interaction: The Work Women Do

"Talk seems less problematic for men, who exert control over when and how it will occur."

I couldn't agree with this more. My roommate, John, who I mentioned in my previous post, is a prime example of men who control conversations. Whenever John has a story he wants to tell, he expects mine and Tina's complete attention. If Tina and I deviate from the topic and make a joke about something he said or interrupt his flow, he gets hurt and, like a child, stops talking and refuses to continue. We have to beg him to finish and apologize for interrupting. Sometimes he keeps telling his story and other times he will walk away, punishing us for not giving him our undivided attention.

However, when I begin to tell him a story he acts uninterested and never makes eye contact with me. His attention is focused on the TV or the computer. At times, he will interrupt me to ask Tina something or even ask me a question not relating to the topic. I know he sounds like an a**hole, but some speakers are not good listeners and vice versa.