From Structure to Meaning: Gendered Communication in Philippine Political Landscapes

This study examines sentence structures of Chomsky and communication styles of male and female senators through Tannen’s Genderlect Theory. The research reveals that male senators predominantly use simple sentences (26 occurrences), complex sentences (14 occurrences), and compound sentences (7 occurrences). In contrast, female senators favor varied structure, including compound-complex sentences (7 occurrences), simple sentences (23 occurrences), complex sentences (6 occurrences), and compound sentences (5 occurrences). Furthermore, the frequencies of Genderlect styles in male and female senators reveal distinct communication. The Information vs. Feelings is the most frequently occurring category, with a total of 111 occurrences. Furthermore, the Conflict vs. Compromise follows, with a total of 50 occurrences. In the Status vs. Support, female senators recorded 10 occurrences compared to six occurrences among male senators. A similar trend is observed in Advice vs. Understanding where female senators registered seven occurrences, significantly higher than the one occurrence among male senators. In addition, the Orders vs. Proposals shows a relatively balanced distribution, with six occurrences among male senators and four among female senators. Lastly, Independence vs. Intimacy recorded the least number of occurrences, with only one instance, observed in male senators. The findings reveal that both genders adjust their linguistic choices based on political context, demonstrating flexibility in communication strategies. The study concludes that gender significantly influences discourse patterns, with male senators prioritizing assertiveness and status assertion, while female senators emphasize inclusivity and engagement. Future research should explore how these linguistic differences affect public perception, media representation, and policy outcomes in political communication.