ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on the popularization of the subcultural perspective. It explores the positions of those who argue that men and women inhabit different ‘worlds’. The chapter shows why the model has enjoyed more success in the USA than in Europe. The dual cultures perspective began as an exploration of the social and linguistic interaction of socially distant groups. According to the dual cultures model, girls learn to create and maintain relationships, criticize others in ways which are acceptable, and interpret the speech of their female playmates accurately and sensitively. The most worrying aspect of this dual cultures approach is the way that it has been used to ‘explain’ sexual harassment and rape, especially ‘date rape’. The most positive aspect of the dual cultures approach is that women’s style is not systematically categorized as ineffectual or deficient.