<P> When describing culture, gender differences are largely not taken into consideration . However, there are certain factors that are useful to analyze in the discussion of cross-cultural communication . Within each society, men's culture differs greatly from women's culture . Although men and women can often perform the same duties from a technical standpoint, there are often symbols to which each gender has a different response . In situations where one gender responds in an alternative manner to their prescribed roles, the other sex may not even accept their deviant gender role . The level of reactions experienced by people exposed to foreign cultures can be compared similarly to the reactions of gender behaviors of the opposite sex . The degree of gender differentiation in a country depends primarily on the culture within that nation and its history . </P> <P> The bipolar model follows typical distinctions made between liberal or socialist political philosophy . Although liberal economies value assertiveness, autonomy, materialism, aggression, money, competition and rationalism, welfare socialism seeks protection and provision for the weak, greater involvement with the environment, an emphasis on nature and well being, and a strong respect for quality of life and collective responsibilities . Masculine societies happen to include the most successful economically during the period of Hofstede's study (USA, Japan, Germany) with the successful feminine societies having either smaller populations, less economic scale and / or strong collective and welfare philosophies (Scandinavia, Costa Rica, France, Thailand). The masculine - feminine dichotomy divides organizations into those exhibiting either compassion, solidarity, collectivism and universalism, or competition, autonomy, merit, results and responsibility . According to Gilligan, this dimension is eurocentric and sexist . </P>

The theory that emphasizes the dynamic nature of the family is the