Talking from 9 to 5

Cultural Norms and Changes

Tannen conducted her research with professional men and women over a time span from the 1970s to the early ’90s. You might expect much of it to feel dated, but the office behaviors she tracks recur to this day. Members of the baby boomer generation – the first to confront consciousness-raising on this subject – dominate the typical office’s highest echelons, particularly in conservative industries. As they retire, they open opportunities for generation X and millennials. These generations grew up with stay-at-home dads, doctors of both genders, and commanding female role models, including CEOs and high-ranking politicians. Yet, Tannen’s research remains relevant and pertinent to the dominant modes of social interaction she describes.

Tannen’s doctoral studies in linguistics alerted her to the influence cultural norms exert on the speech and behavior that people expect. Children copy their role models’ speech to earn acceptance. They absorb cultural cues from their region, socioeconomic class and ethnicity.