Host vs Hostess: Difference and Comparison

Event management is considered to be a professional genre of work. Among many other delegates, hosts play an important role in the success of events, both big and small.

Key Takeaways

1. Host refers to a person who welcomes and entertains guests, while hostess refers to a female host.
2. Hosts can refer to male and female hosts, while hostess is gender-specific.
3. Host and hostess are used interchangeably, but it is important to use the correct term based on gender.

Host vs Hostess

A host is a person who receives or entertains other people as their guests. It is also a verb which means to act as a host at an event or program. A hostess is a woman who receives or entertain guest, but it is also used to refer to a stewardess on a train or a flight attendant on an aircraft.

A host is most commonly attributed to a male person who indulges in hosting activities. On the other hand, the word host has subjective interpretations as well.

A hostess is a female who takes care of hospitability and other management tasks in meetings or cultural events. When there is a need to employ persuasive techniques, female hosts are preferred over male hosts.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Host	Hostess
Definition	A host is a moderator expected to act as the representative of party organizers in front of the guests. The organizer might also become the host.	Hostess is a female host with almost similar functions.
Grammar Usage	The word host is used as a verb and a noun.	The word hostess is only used as a noun.
Clothing	Hosts can wear tuxedos in all formal gatherings.	A hostess can dress in traditional clothes or western formals (including pantsuits).
Tasks Assigned	Management and extracting information.	Manipulation and serving food.
Context of Reliability	Preferred for large gatherings (maybe due to gender stereotypes).	Preferred for traditional gatherings and cultural programs.

What is Host?

The word host is an umbrella term that incorporates all activities that are attributed to the person hosting an event. The subcategorization might be into a male host and a female host.

As far as the concrete act of hosting is concerned, no two people have the same qualities, and the choice is made based on skills like entertaining nature, reliability of content spoken, etc.

Host, when used as a verb indicates the act of managing the party when guests arrive. The relationship is mainly considered between the guests and the host who is hosting the party.

What is Hostess?

A hostess is a female host. This term is also used commonly while referring to a flight attendant. This is an exclusive post for females, most commonly referred to as an air hostess.

Formal dressing for female hosts might be cultural or Western. In most cases, a female host (hostess) and a male host handle the stage together so that unanimity is maintained while the event progresses.

Hostess is attributed to feminine features only. No male can identify himself as a hostess, irrespective of the designated role-play or specific group of activities assigned for the event.

Main Differences Between Host And Hostess

1. The tasks assigned to a host include handling large gatherings, and multitasking is common to both the host and the hostess. Tasks assigned to a hostess mostly include the introduction of members and cooperation.
2. Hosts are more reliable in handling tasks like management, while a hostess is delegated with persuasive tasks and other activities attributed to the nature of manipulation of the audience.

References

1. https://meridian.allenpress.com/human-organization/article-abstract/19/1/17/69743

Last Updated : 25 August, 2023