Men and women statistically are far more similar than different. For this discussion I'm limiting it to the binary distinction between men and women since the research on non-binary gender proclivities is not yet solid enough to make broad conclusions. That's not to say that the ways in which LGBTIQ people experience the world are not valid just that I'm trying to keep this statistically driven even if that means a binary analysis.
At a binary level of distinction, there are real gender differences. This had better be the case as the benefits of diversity assume that these two groups differ in material ways. If men and women each only brought the same, it materially weakens the case for gender diversity and greatly bolsters the case for other kinds of diversity such as ethnicity, age, socio-economic, intellectual, sexual orientation, ability/disability and religious or cultural. Given that "diversity" in the corporate world these days essentially means gender diversity it is important to know that such a thing exists for the sheer amount of resources that are put against this topic in Boardrooms, executive gatherings and the media.
There are indeed several scientifically proven gender differences between males and females. These can be broadly split into two categories: biological and psychological.
Biological differences are those that are genetically and hormonally determined. For instance, genetically, males have an XY chromosome arrangement, while females have an XX arrangement. Hormonally, males predominantly produce testosterone, while females predominantly produce estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal differences impact body shape, muscle mass, fat distribution, and reproductive organs.
Psychological differences, on the other hand, remain an area of ongoing research and debate, as such differences can be influenced by cultural and environmental aspects. On average, some research suggests there are distinctions in cognitive abilities or preferences, emotional expression, and interpersonal behaviour.
Here are some of the more proven gender differences.
Cognitive Abilities: Studies have shown some average differences between genders in certain cognitive abilities. For instance, research has indicated that females tend to outperform males on tasks requiring verbal ability and memory. On the other hand, males often perform better on tasks requiring spatial and mechanical skills. Also, males tend to score higher in spatial orienteering, while females excel in verbal fluency.
Emotional Expression: Women are generally found to express emotions more often, more intensely and more openly than men. However, this is also heavily influenced by societal norms and expectations.
Stress Response: Males and females may respond differently to stress as well. Men are often more likely to have a "fight or flight" response, while women might lean towards a "tend and befriend" strategy, nurturing others and reaching out to social networks for support.
Risk-Taking: There is evidence to suggest that men are typically more willing to take risks than women. These differences have been observed in various fields such as finance, health, and social domains.
Depression and Anxiety: Women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience depression and anxiety, according to multiple studies. One finding is that women ruminate much more than men (they play the movie in their heads over and over). However, this may be due, in part, to differences in reporting practices among genders. However, always remember there's significant individual variability and overlap between genders.
Networking differences. A study from LinkedIn suggested that while men tend to have more connections, women may be more successful at leveraging their networks. This could, in part, be due to the tendency of women to prioritize deep, interpersonal relationships and men to focus on broad, strategic connections.
Remember, these are general findings that should not be applied to any given individual. Just as men are statistically more aggressive, women who are in the top 10% of aggression for women will also likely be more prone to aggression than the majority of men. It's also why most violent crimes are males. The top 10% of aggressive humans are mostly male.
Due to males being statistically bigger and stronger than the average female, the consequences of male violence are also very serious. The very way that males and females express aggression is different. According to a compilation of research studies males typically, males are more likely to display physical and direct aggression. On the other hand, females are often associated with a form of aggression known as relational aggression, which includes gossiping, excluding others, and manipulating social relationships. This is sometimes referred to as indirect aggression.
There's also great diversity WITHIN genders, and many of these differences are relatively small when compared with individual differences.
Moreover, these studies mainly reflect trends in binary genders and can't fully encompass the spectrum of gender identities. Finally, psychological differences between genders are influenced not only by biology but also by socialization and environmental factors.
It's essential to acknowledge that these differences shouldn't form the basis for discrimination or bias and that gender identity is also an important and personal aspect of the overall human experience that doesn't always align with one's biological sex.
So, gender differences are real and material, statistically speaking. An obvious question is, given all the ways humans can differ from other humans is the gender lens the most potent and powerful and deserving of all the words and attention, or is the most impactful differentiator more likely to be other kinds of diversity such as ethnicity, age, socio-economic, intellectual, sexual orientation, ability/disability and religious or cultural. I suspect context matters greatly.
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