Why are Men and Women so Different?

Morgan Brown, Emma Kite, and Nicole Groeneweg

Sex DifferencesSex Differences

Videohttp://youtube.com/watch?

v=8CWMCt35oFY = Disney and masculinity

Videohttp://youtube.com/watch?

v=8CWMCt35oFY = Disney and masculinity

Men and Women are different

Men and Women are different

But why?Possible theory: gender socialization

Culture and society are what make boys and girls different, not biology

Toy trucks and guns vs. dolls and tea setsAccording to the standard social science model,

men and women think and behave differently because they have been socialized differently by their culture and society

Male and female babies are born identical except for a few anatomical differences

But why?Possible theory: gender socialization

Culture and society are what make boys and girls different, not biology

Toy trucks and guns vs. dolls and tea setsAccording to the standard social science model,

men and women think and behave differently because they have been socialized differently by their culture and society

Male and female babies are born identical except for a few anatomical differences

Gender Socialization Cont…

Gender Socialization Cont…

Men and women think and behave differently because society expects them to

Gender neutral society would raise gender neutral individualsIf raised in a gender neutral society

men and women would be the same in behavior, cognitions, values and preferences

Biology has no influence

Men and women think and behave differently because society expects them to

Gender neutral society would raise gender neutral individualsIf raised in a gender neutral society

men and women would be the same in behavior, cognitions, values and preferences

Biology has no influence

Disproving Gender Socialization

Disproving Gender Socialization

Studies show that this is a false theoryStudy #1

102 newborn babies shown a mechanical mobile or a picture of a woman’s face

Measuring which object the baby paid attention to the longest

Boys gazed longer at the mechanical mobile while girls gazed longer at the woman’s face

Helped conclude that biology must play a role in gender differences with men generally showing interest in machines and women more interested in social relationships

SSSM can no way explain how 24hrs of life can constitute gender socialization

Studies show that this is a false theoryStudy #1

102 newborn babies shown a mechanical mobile or a picture of a woman’s face

Measuring which object the baby paid attention to the longest

Boys gazed longer at the mechanical mobile while girls gazed longer at the woman’s face

Helped conclude that biology must play a role in gender differences with men generally showing interest in machines and women more interested in social relationships

SSSM can no way explain how 24hrs of life can constitute gender socialization

Disproving Gender Socialization

Disproving Gender Socialization

Study #2Across species: 44 male and 44 female monkeys2 masculine toys, 2 feminine toys, 2 neutral toysResults: male monkeys showed significantly

greater interest in the male toys and the girl monkeys chose the female toys. There were no differences in the neutral toys

Gender socialization cannot be correct since these monkeys never were socialized by humans and had never seen the toys before

Thus, differences in behavior, cognition, values and preferences are largely innate, universal across cultures, and in many cases constant across species

Study #2Across species: 44 male and 44 female monkeys2 masculine toys, 2 feminine toys, 2 neutral toysResults: male monkeys showed significantly

greater interest in the male toys and the girl monkeys chose the female toys. There were no differences in the neutral toys

Gender socialization cannot be correct since these monkeys never were socialized by humans and had never seen the toys before

Thus, differences in behavior, cognition, values and preferences are largely innate, universal across cultures, and in many cases constant across species

Biological DifferencesBiological Differences

Nurturing and care giving vs. aggression and competition

Anisogamy: female sex cell is larger in size and fewer in number; male sex cell is smaller in size and greater in number. This means that the egg is biologically far more valuable than the sperm. This leads to…

Fitness Variance: men’s potential to reproduce is much greater than women’s. Men can reproduce infinitely while women can have a max of 25ish pregnancies

Nurturing and care giving vs. aggression and competition

Anisogamy: female sex cell is larger in size and fewer in number; male sex cell is smaller in size and greater in number. This means that the egg is biologically far more valuable than the sperm. This leads to…

Fitness Variance: men’s potential to reproduce is much greater than women’s. Men can reproduce infinitely while women can have a max of 25ish pregnancies

Fitness Variance Exemplified

Fitness Variance Exemplified

Greatest number of children a single woman has ever had is 69!Russian peasant, 18th century27 pregnancies: 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of

triplets, 4 sets of quadrupletsGreatest number of children a man has

ever had is 1,042!Sharifian Emperor of Morocco: Ismael the

Bloodthirsty The point of this is that women can never

come remotely close to the amount of offspring that a man has the potential of producing

Greatest number of children a single woman has ever had is 69!Russian peasant, 18th century27 pregnancies: 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of

triplets, 4 sets of quadrupletsGreatest number of children a man has

ever had is 1,042!Sharifian Emperor of Morocco: Ismael the

Bloodthirsty The point of this is that women can never

come remotely close to the amount of offspring that a man has the potential of producing

The Point of Fitness Variance

The Point of Fitness Variance

CompetitionMen are more competitive, aggressive, and

violent because they gain far more by competing with each other for access to matesThe reward of competition gives men the greater

potential to see their genes passed into the next generation

The potential cost of not competing is greater than actually competing

Women are less aggressive because competing for mates has a greater potential cost of injury or death. To be reproductively successful, women need just one pregnancy to assure their genes into the next generation

CompetitionMen are more competitive, aggressive, and

violent because they gain far more by competing with each other for access to matesThe reward of competition gives men the greater

potential to see their genes passed into the next generation

The potential cost of not competing is greater than actually competing

Women are less aggressive because competing for mates has a greater potential cost of injury or death. To be reproductively successful, women need just one pregnancy to assure their genes into the next generation

There is Only One Human Culture

There is Only One Human Culture

Cultures only differ on superficial levelsThe world does not consist of many

different cultures

All cultures are the same on the abstract levelAll human cultures eat animal proteins

(beef, pork) and all human cultures worship animate objects (Jesus, Buddah)

There is no infinite variability in human culture

Cultures only differ on superficial levelsThe world does not consist of many

different cultures

All cultures are the same on the abstract levelAll human cultures eat animal proteins

(beef, pork) and all human cultures worship animate objects (Jesus, Buddah)

There is no infinite variability in human culture

Exotic Cultures that Never Were

Exotic Cultures that Never Were

Many have tried to prove that the world consists of radically different human culturesMargaret Mead and the SamoasGentle TalisdayNative American Environmentalist

Many have tried to prove that the world consists of radically different human culturesMargaret Mead and the SamoasGentle TalisdayNative American Environmentalist

Example Slide for us Samoa

Example Slide for us Samoa

She went to Samoa on a research expedition looking to find a culture displaying radically different male and female gender roles compared to the west (video we have been watching)

Two native females told Mead that gender roles in Samoa were opposite of gender roles in the West, lending great support to the gender socialization theory

The native girls later admitted the information they supplied was false. They thought her questions were funny so they decided silly answers would be appropriate

She went to Samoa on a research expedition looking to find a culture displaying radically different male and female gender roles compared to the west (video we have been watching)

Two native females told Mead that gender roles in Samoa were opposite of gender roles in the West, lending great support to the gender socialization theory

The native girls later admitted the information they supplied was false. They thought her questions were funny so they decided silly answers would be appropriate

Example Slide for us Talisday

Example Slide for us Talisday

Since there existed the Yanamamo, an extremely aggressive culture, it was thought that there must also exist an opposite culture that was extremely peaceful

Researchers thought that they found such a culture in the Philippines, but again this turned out to be a hoax

The Philippine government was found to have manufactured this culture in order to attract positive publicity to distract attention away from an unpopular regime

Since there existed the Yanamamo, an extremely aggressive culture, it was thought that there must also exist an opposite culture that was extremely peaceful

Researchers thought that they found such a culture in the Philippines, but again this turned out to be a hoax

The Philippine government was found to have manufactured this culture in order to attract positive publicity to distract attention away from an unpopular regime

Example Slide NA EnvironmentalismExample Slide NA Environmentalism

It is widely believed, even today, that the NA have an extremely environmentally friendly cultureHowever, the NA were responsible for the

extinction of many plant and animal species long before the Europeans ever set foot on the continent.

This myth is still perpetuated today, though, through film and television shows that portray the Native Americans as protective of the environment

In reality, all human cultures are known for exploiting the environment to the maximum in order to survive.

It is widely believed, even today, that the NA have an extremely environmentally friendly cultureHowever, the NA were responsible for the

extinction of many plant and animal species long before the Europeans ever set foot on the continent.

This myth is still perpetuated today, though, through film and television shows that portray the Native Americans as protective of the environment

In reality, all human cultures are known for exploiting the environment to the maximum in order to survive.

3 Interesting Things3 Interesting ThingsWife of Russian Peasant

Gave birth to 69 children, had no single births, lived during the 1700s and survived 27 pregnancies!

Across species comparisonEven male baby monkeys showed a preference for

the stereotypically male toy--it is just interesting that the biology of male and female gender differences is represented in another non-human species.

There is really only one human cultureCultures may vary superficially but scientists have

yet to find a human culture that is truly fundamentally different.

Wife of Russian Peasant Gave birth to 69 children, had no single births, lived

during the 1700s and survived 27 pregnancies!Across species comparison

Even male baby monkeys showed a preference for the stereotypically male toy--it is just interesting that the biology of male and female gender differences is represented in another non-human species.

There is really only one human cultureCultures may vary superficially but scientists have

yet to find a human culture that is truly fundamentally different.

Weak ArgumentsWeak ArgumentsOnly allowed room for biological

Doesn’t take into account how society and parenting may influence a person’s behaviorFor example a little girl raised by single dad or in a

home with all brothers may play more aggressively or engage in more stereotypically male activities.

Native American Environmentalism The Native Americans did live off of the land, and

use its natural resources, yet it is not fair to say that they had the same disregard for the life around them that the European settlers had from the moment they set foot on the continent. In regards to nature; animals like beavers became extinct after trade and money came into play, after the Europeans got there.

Only allowed room for biologicalDoesn’t take into account how society and

parenting may influence a person’s behaviorFor example a little girl raised by single dad or in a

home with all brothers may play more aggressively or engage in more stereotypically male activities.

Native American Environmentalism The Native Americans did live off of the land, and

use its natural resources, yet it is not fair to say that they had the same disregard for the life around them that the European settlers had from the moment they set foot on the continent. In regards to nature; animals like beavers became extinct after trade and money came into play, after the Europeans got there.

Test QuestionsTest Questions 1. Gender socialization is…

A. Idea that all cultures are the same at the abstract level

B. Men and women think and behave differently because society expects them to

C. Biology is the sole influence on behavior

B. Men and women think and behave differently because society expects them to

1. Gender socialization is… A. Idea that all cultures are the same at the abstract

level B. Men and women think and behave differently

because society expects them to C. Biology is the sole influence on behavior

B. Men and women think and behave differently because society expects them to

Test QuestionsTest Questions

2. True or False --

Human culture has been found to vary even at the most fundamental level?

FALSE

2. True or False --

Human culture has been found to vary even at the most fundamental level?

FALSE

Test QuestionTest Question 3. Margaret Mead researched the…

A. Yanamamo B. Gentle Talisday, C. Samoa

C. SAMOA

3. Margaret Mead researched the…

A. Yanamamo B. Gentle Talisday, C. Samoa

C. SAMOA

Test QuestionsTest Questions 4. In the study, baby boys gazed at what the longest?

A. A woman’s face B. A mechanical mobile C. A stuffed animal

B. mechanical mobile

4. In the study, baby boys gazed at what the longest? A. A woman’s face B. A mechanical mobile C. A stuffed animal

B. mechanical mobile

Test QuestionTest Question 5. True or False? Gender roles in the Samoan culture are

radically different from Western culture?

False

5. True or False? Gender roles in the Samoan culture are radically different from Western culture?

False

Test QuestionTest Question

6. Men are more competitive than women because A. they like sports B. fitness variance C. they are less intelligent than women D gender socialization

B. Fitness Variance

6. Men are more competitive than women because A. they like sports B. fitness variance C. they are less intelligent than women D gender socialization

B. Fitness Variance

ReferencesReferences

Miller, A.S. & Kanazawa, S. (2007). Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters: From Dating, Shopping, and

Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire—Two Evolutionary Psychologists Explain Why We Do What

We Do. New York City: NY: Perigee Inc.

Miller, A.S. & Kanazawa, S. (2007). Why Beautiful People Have More Daughters: From Dating, Shopping, and

Praying to Going to War and Becoming a Billionaire—Two Evolutionary Psychologists Explain Why We Do What

We Do. New York City: NY: Perigee Inc.