As a result of growing up in different cultures, women and men have different communication styles. Males also tend to be more dominant in conversation, to be more relaxed, to argue more, and to be more dramatic and more precise. These cultural differences are reflected in the interaction patterns of students and instructors and are exhibited in the classroom in a number of ways. Regardless of their sex, instructors overestimate the achievement levels of females and underestimate achievement levels for males. Students are also more willing to guess at answers in female instructors' classes.
Male instructors give less feedback to students, mostly after correct or part-correct answers.
Female instructors give less feedback after wrong answers or no response. Summarized below are additional ways in which male and female instructors interact with their students. Preferential treatment for males. Instructors make eye contact, nod in attentiveness, call by name, wait longer for answers, and stand closer to male students than female students. Male students are also coached in working toward fuller answers by instructors probing for additional elaboration or explanation.