Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

I have been thinking a lot about this due to my work issues. Do you think men are just different creatures from women biologically, or is it just the way we are raised.

Discuss.

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

We're certainly different biologically. Our brains are built differently. But of course, how you're raised plays a HUGE role as well.

To look at Nature vs. Nurture you have to examine one's sex vs. their gender. There's a difference between sex (nature) and gender (nurture).

ETA: Where your sex may be black and white (either you're XX or XY) your gender may not be so clear, it can fall anywhere in the spectrum from being a girly girl to a manly man.

Message edited 11/8/2007 1:32:14 PM.

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

I tend to think that by nature men are just so different. When I see little boys playing vs. girls....it's just such a big difference.

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

I think both things play into how you think and react to situations, what you enjoy, etc., but there is evidence which, IMO, shows how much nature comes into play.

David Reimer

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

I read David Reimer's book- As Nature Made Him. I have to say, it really did change my perspective. IN college, I took tons of classes on gender issues and I truly believed it was mostly if not entirely how we are raised.

Then I had a daughter. And you can just see the difference. Jordana has footballs, basketballs and 1 doll. She goes to her doll and says baby, baby. And she is not a dainty little thing. She is more like a bull in a china shop. But still. I see a difference from the boys she plays with.

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

Re: Gender differences: nature vs. nurture

Both. there are definite genetic differences. According to studies, men are better at spacial relations, men are usually stronger physically (lifting-type stuff). I think a lot of the gentic things go back to caveman times. The men went out and hunted, and the women stayed home (this was thousands of years ago, so I'm not trying to say women need to stay at home now.... ). Women needed to talk to each other to convey "Hey, don't eat that, it's poisonous", etc. Men needed to communicate "You go that way to surround the Wooly Mammoth" without making a sound.

In today's society, men and women are still treated differently. Men are the "Strong, providers", and women are the "Caring nurturers", and if you don't fit that category, society thinks less of you.


I think Nature overrules a lot of things, though. Since DS is 3 years older than DD, there's obviously a lot more of his toys around the house. She actually picks up his cars and cuddles them....