Do women really talk more than men? A new study weighs in |
Are women more talkative than men? It’s a common assumption rooted in stereotypes and repeated in everyday conversations, but how much truth is there to it? A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology attempts to settle the debate with fresh data from over 2,000 participants across four countries. Using wearable audio recorders to track speech throughout the day, researchers discovered some gender differences, but not as universally as you might think. While women were found to speak more than men in certain age groups, the gap wasn’t consistent across all life stages. In fact, the study suggests the real answer is far more nuanced than the long-standing cliche.
When and why women speak more than men
The research, led by Colin Tidwell at the University of Arizona, aimed to replicate a widely cited 2007 study that claimed men and women speak roughly the same number of words daily, around 16,000. But that earlier research was based on a relatively small group of university students. This new study expanded the sample size to 2,197 people of different ages and backgrounds, offering a more representative snapshot of everyday speech patterns.
How the study measured speech of women and men
Participants wore an “EAR” (electronically activated recorder) that captured brief, intermittent snippets of audio throughout the day. Crucially, they didn’t know when the device was recording, reducing the likelihood of altered behavior. Researchers then transcribed these recordings and used software to estimate each person’s daily word count.For people aged 24 to 65 — early and middle adulthood — women spoke an average of 13,349 words per day compared to 11,950 for men. That’s a difference of nearly 1,400 words, aligning with the social perception that women talk more. However, among teenagers and young adults, the gap was much smaller. In those over 65, it actually reversed: older men spoke more than older women by around 788 words per day.
What could explain the differences
Researchers suggest several possible explanations. Biological factors, such as the hormone estradiol, which is linked to verbal fluency and is more prominent in women, could play a role. But social context matters too. Since participants weren’t recorded at work due to privacy rules, much of the data came from time spent with family and friends — situations in which women, especially those caring for children, might naturally talk more.Although broader than the 2007 study, this research still had limitations. It included participants from only four countries and lacked diversity in cultural background, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It also couldn’t capture speech in professional settings, where gender roles may differ significantly from the home environment.
So, do women really talk more?
Only in specific contexts and age groups. The most reliable finding was that women in early to middle adulthood speak more than men. But for other age brackets, the differences were smaller or even reversed. While the stereotype of the “chatty woman” might have some statistical backing in midlife, the broader picture is far more balanced and still unfolding as research continues.
