Why does the typical man handle conflict more directly than the typical woman? I believe there are deep roots to the differences in masculine and feminine style of conflict – in nature and nurture. Differences may be rooted in hormonal differences and how children play. In other words, changing how we individually tend to handle conflict takes conscious effort.
After my Huffington Post article on styles of managing conflict, I continued to brood about my own way of handling conflict. Conflict has been particularly ineffective for me when it is with another woman. I find little redeeming value in the feminine (indirect) approach to conflict. And yet I have had little luck doing direct conflict (the masculine style) with women. When women have a dispute, it seems, both need to practice a direct but gentle form of conflict and manage the inevitable emotions.
