When i arrived at work today, I found that a moderately sized group of ladies had taken a position at a long table in the cafe, and they were engaged in a holiday gift exchange. It was quite pleasant to observe their friendship and exchange of token Santas, soaps and scents, but the squealing was reminiscent of what one might expect at a baby shower or a 14 year old's slumber party. The "oohs", "awwws" and giggles echoed loudly through the cafe. Now, if laughter is infectious, then squealing and giggling are the green-phlem expulsion that signals the need for a quarantine. IMHO.
This is not meant to be sexist, just observational. Because we all know that, when a group of guys are gathered in a dark pizza parlor around an aged oak table with limericks carved into every inch of it's surface, Sausage and Pepperoni remains scattered about a still-spinning pie tin, and beer foam splattering about as they grunt, bellow laughter, slap high fives and shout "Oh Yeah!" at every touchdown occurring on the projection set above them, the women in the establishment all sigh a collective "eeewwwwh".
We are so different in these group dynamics.
I saw an interesting documentary once that showed studies of toddlers and their behavior. Boys generally sat or played side by side, typically in their own independent ways with clearly defined interaction (i.e., playing with army men or construction set toys), limited eye contact and authoritative conversations. While girls sat facing each other, engaged in more back-and-fforth interaction, complete with validation and feedback of each other's thoughts.
And so it seems to carry into adulthood as well.
My wife has often commented on how a phone conversation between myself and a male friend transpires. They're typically short, focused, to the point, and with little or no 'fluff' material. If I need to borrow a hammer, for example, I'd pick up the phone, call my neighbor Ian, say "Hey man. How's it going?.... Can I borrow your hammer?". Notice the failure to actually wait for or engage in a dialog about "how it's going". On the flip side, if she called a girl friend to ask to borrow a cup of sugar, she'd first engage in a lengthy dialog about how everybody is, there's be a bit of bantered laughter back and forth with some tittering over some cute or interesting behavior a child had recently done, and perhaps some notes of concern or support over a reference to an issue in the other's life. Then the request to borrow the sugar. Then more follow on chit-chat before ending the 20 minute phone call.
"Men don't know how to converse" I've been told. And in the big picture, I would disagree. We do, but we don't consider it an obligation every time we talk. it's an unspoken understanding. Perhaps we're either less socially aware, less socially conscious, or perhaps less socially constrained. I guess it's all about while side of the room you're on when the giggling and squealing starts.