Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2019
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Communication Studies and Theatre
First Advisor
Karla M. Hunter
Keywords
Feminine Communication, Gender Essentialism, Masculine Communication, Muted Group, Narrative Paradigm, Women in Agriculture
Abstract
In recent history, women have entered more business-like positions in the agricultural industry. This thesis seeks to understand how women in agriculture describe their workplace communication and whether they feel they are part of a muted group. Twelve women were interviewed regarding their experiences as women in agriculture and were asked whether they feel valued in their positions and how they communicate with their male co-workers. Specifically, interviewees were asked if they ever felt the need to alter their communication to complement, emulate, or otherwise adjust to masculine communication styles. The majority of women interviewed reported having to strategically choose when to use masculine versus feminine communication styles in order to achieve effective outcomes when communicating with men in the agricultural workplace. Implications based on these findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Women in agriculture.
Communication in agriculture.
Women -- Communication.
Agricultural industries.
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
122
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Larson, Shala R., "Undoing Gender: An Analysis of How Women Communicate Within the Agricultural Industry" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3162.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/3162
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons
Rights Statement
