Joseph A. Devito’s Barriers to Interpersonal Communication

Racist, Sexist, and Heterosexist Listening

· What is Racist, Sexist, and Heterosexist listening?

· Just as Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism influences language, it can also influence the way we listen.

· This concept refers to the assumption that what someone is saying is influenced by the speaker’s sex, race, or sexuality

· For example, “Of course he complimented her shirt, he’s so gay.”

· Why should I avoid this listening?

· Allowing someone’s message to be influenced by their race, sexuality, or sex leaves room for misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and the proliferation of stereotypes.

· How do I correct Racist, Sexist, and Heterosexist Listening?

· Practice listening to the speaker’s message irrespective of their race, sex, or sexual orientation/identity.

· Realize when you are filtering a person’s message through these labels and correct yourself accordingly.

· Realize the people you communicate with are complex individuals and should never be limited to just a label.

University Speaking Center, speakingcenter.uncg.edu, (336) 256-1346; DeVito, Joseph A. The interpersonal communication book. 10th ed. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2004