For most men, talk is primarily a means to preserve independence and negotiate and maintain status in a hierarchical social order, a language of report. This is done by exhibiting knowledge and skill, and by holding the center stage through verbal performance such as story telling, joking, or imparting information. When the subject is feminism, women tend to ask about practical problems. Politeness, although positively valued today, was once a sign of humility. Research to date indicates that men tend to control topics of conversation and to interrupt women.
Women tend to raise more questions and to give minimal responses to maintain harmonious exchanges.
Men talk more, contrary to what is commonly believed, and are more likely to use a vernacular style in private while females use a standard and polite language. These conclusions, however, should be considered with caution since language use also varies according to situational conditions.