What's the biggest difference between men and women? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

kate jack · 07-09-2008, 03:14 PM

Aside from genetics .....

I'll go with... Women take comments to heart much more than men. Also, most women tend to over analyze conversations. Sometimes when a man replies to the "what are you thinking" question with "nothing" that is truly the case. They are able to just sit and stare at an inanimate object and not be contemplating the nature of their existence. They really aren't hiding anything, they just don't have an opinion on every little thing.

Tully Mars · 07-09-2008, 03:26 PM

There's at least one of two reasons I can't answer this question...

Either...

A. I don't understand the what the differences are, least not completely. It's like a Rubic's cube when it's not solved. I know it's out of whack but I don't have a clue how to get it back to "right."

Or...

B. There isn't enough space left on the "internets" to write out all the reasons I think men are different from women.

I'll let you decide which one's correct. Mainly because I don't know the answer myself.

Miss Mango · 07-09-2008, 03:34 PM

How we communicate.

Tully Mars · 07-09-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Mango

How we communicate.

I don't understand.

Miss Mango · 07-09-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I don\'t understand.

Speaking from my own experience...

Example:

Women have ability to get annoyed at little things, and to notice when other women are being inappropriate whereas men do not.

snowy · 07-09-2008, 04:19 PM

Miss Mango, I think you missed Tully's joke

He's a subtle one.

One of the clear differences I see between the sexes on a daily basis in my work with small children is that at ages 5-6, boys are better with concrete thinking and things they can put their hands on, while girls are better at abstract thinking. This difference becomes less pronounced as kids get older; boys start catching up at 6-7 in abstract thinking, and vice-versa.

Another difference--and this one is a gender difference--I see in adults that troubles me is how young men in particular seem petrified to ask for help, especially when it comes to mental health/mental issues. Women seem to be more comfortable with that, though I'm sure as with all things, there are exceptions. I think that the construct of gender is partially responsible for this.

Tully Mars · 07-09-2008, 04:25 PM

I guess I do suck at subtle sarcasm

This why only my dogs laugh at my jokes.

Miss Mango · 07-09-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

Miss Mango, I think you missed Tullys joke

Hes a subtle one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I guess I do suck at subtle sarcasm

This why only my dogs laugh at my jokes.

Ooops! Doh me!

UKking · 07-09-2008, 05:48 PM

Nature vs. nurture.

The way that parents have consistently fucked up when raising their kids to make society happy.

newtx · 07-09-2008, 08:07 PM

I have always heard this and it rings of truth. Men marry women hoping they will never change and women marry men hoping to change them. Therein lies the problem........................................

Bill O'Rights · 07-10-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I guess I do suck at subtle sarcasm.

I got it. But, then again, I also have a highly tuned sarcastic sense of humor.

Besides the obvious X vs Y chromosome, and the penis vs vagina answer...it's most definately communication. It takes Mrs. O'Rights 8 hours to tell me how her 8 hour day at work went. It takes me 5 seconds. That pretty much sums it up.

Baraka_Guru · 07-10-2008, 05:26 AM

From "The Secrets of Married Men" from Psychology Today:

The average woman uses 7,000 words a day and five tones of speech, [psychiatrist Scott Haltzman] points out. The average man uses 2,000 words and three tones. "Men are talk-impaired, relatively speaking," he says.

I can relate to that.

Tully Mars · 07-10-2008, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

I got it. But, then again, I also have a highly tuned sarcastic sense of humor.

Besides the obvious X vs Y chromosome, and the penis vs vagina answer...it's most definately communication. It takes Mrs. O'Rights 8 hours to tell me how her 8 hour day at work went. It takes me 5 seconds. That pretty much sums it up.

The Ex-Mrs. Tully used to spend an hour a night trying to get me to detail every second of my day. "What happened in court?" "He was convicted." "Well, who testified, what'd they say, did they get the evidence in they wanted, was he convicted on all counts, what color tie did the DA wear? On and on and on. Man, I just spent all day working, I don't want to spend all night talking about it. Not only that but there were many times I sat in on mental health eval's, which are confidential by law. "But I'm your wife you can tell me." No, I can't and do you really want to hear Jim used to screw the family dog? Seriously, the shit I heard today was sick enough, I don't want to come home and relive it.

Bill O'Rights · 07-10-2008, 05:56 AM

BINGO!!!!

Lasereth · 07-10-2008, 06:03 AM

Guys fuck and girls make love.

Tully Mars · 07-10-2008, 06:17 AM

Yeah, and women need a reason to have sex... men just need a place.

Baraka_Guru · 07-10-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lasereth

Guys fuck and girls make love.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

Yeah, and women need a reason to have sex... men just need a place.

Au contraire....

snowy · 07-10-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Au contraire....

Yeah, I'll second that. I don't like to "make love" all the time, just once in a great while. I actually prefer to fuck.

I just happen to love who I'm fucking. And a reason? What reason does one need beyond that it feels good?

dlish · 07-10-2008, 07:32 AM

apart from the jatz crackers?

everything

Giant Hamburger · 07-10-2008, 12:13 PM

plumbing

thingstodo · 07-11-2008, 02:18 AM

men are hunter/gatherers and women are nurturers. men need to feed their ego and constantly get promoted - even if they can't handle the next job - while women find something they like and become content with it.

Pholeus · 07-11-2008, 08:42 AM

I'd definitely go with communication as well. Which is why i find it strange that I'm the one who communicates more and my girlfriend is the closed off one.

Lubeboy · 07-11-2008, 10:30 AM

women love drama, men don't.

ngdawg · 07-11-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

I got it. But, then again, I also have a highly tuned sarcastic sense of humor.

Besides the obvious X vs Y chromosome, and the penis vs vagina answer...it's most definately communication. It takes Mrs. O'Rights 8 hours to tell me how her 8 hour day at work went. It takes me 5 seconds. That pretty much sums it up.

Here it's just the opposite. I answer "fine" when asked about work. If I ask about his day, I get a blow by blow description, right down to the idiots on the road coming and going

I once heard this difference and it mostly rings true: Women are defined by who they are. Men are defined by what they do.

vanblah · 07-11-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lubeboy

women love drama, men don't.

You've never met the lead singer for my band.

As for an answer to the post. I don't really think there are black and white differences between the two other than the obvious physical difference. You will find women who are overly emotional just as you will find men who exhibit the same behavior. You will find men who lack the skills of communication just as you will find women who do the same.

Hain · 07-12-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

View: [ANCHOR]Opposite sex drives you crazy -- the causes[/ANCHOR] (link)
Source: Edition (http://edition.cnn.com)

Abstract: "# There are explanations why men and women act differently # Sexually released oxytocin encourages cuddling, testosterone neutralizes # Men only talk about problems to find solutions, women to relieve stress # Men like "chic flicks" more than they publicly admit"

Quote:

Opposite sex drives you crazy -- the causes
May 28, 2008 -- Updated 0347 GMT (1147 HKT)
by Joy Hepp
from Edition, http://edition.cnn.com

(LifeWire) -- As Walter Christensen, a 53-year-old physics professor from Pomona, California, discovered, when it comes to cuddling, women know what they want. When he and his lover spend the night together, he's usually awoken around 3 a.m. with a familiar request.

"She calls out, 'Spoon, spoon!'" he says. He willingly obliges with front-to-back cuddling -- even though he admits he probably wouldn't do so without being asked.

"I like the feeling of her wanting to do that," he says, "so I do it out of a sense of responsibility."

His lover, 32-year-old art-history scholar Natalie Valle, appreciates the attention.

While the differences between the sexes drive some couples to distraction, being aware of them enhances relationships, as Christensen and Valle can attest. Is there hope for the rest of us? Researchers have found that science can be used to explain a lot of behavior that widens the gender gap, and in so doing may help couples understand each other better.

1. Women want to cuddle

What you think: Women love to cuddle after sex, whereas men just want to fall asleep.

What the experts say: "During sexual intercourse, oxytocin is released in both men and women, and that encourages bonding within the couple," says Dr. Marianne J. Legato, founder of the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University and author of "Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget."

Oxytocin is a hormone often associated with love because its levels increase during intimate acts like hugging, kissing and intercourse. However, "testosterone neutralizes the effect of oxytocin, so men are less likely to want to prolong contact after orgasm."

2. Men hate shopping

What you think: Men hate to go shopping with their mate because they think it's a waste of time.

What the experts say: Men do enjoy shopping when they get to "hunt" for a specific item, whereas women enjoy "grazing" for items. This goes back to our hunting and gathering days, when losing focus could mean losing the week's meal.

"Men are much more task-oriented," says Robert Schwarz, a psychologist and director of the Mars and Venus Counseling and Wellness Center in Haverford, Pennsylvania. "They hunt it, they kill it, they buy it and they go out."

In the aptly titled 2007 study "Men Buy, Women Shop," University of Pennsylvania researchers found that factors having to do with speed and convenience were the most important for men. Of the 1,250 male and female shoppers surveyed by phone, finding parking near the store or mall entrance was the No. 1 problem men said they encountered when shopping (29 percent of respondents), whereas women cited "lack of help" as their chief complaint (also 29 percent).

3. Women make mountains out of molehills

What you think: Women obsess about every little thing; men seem to have it all under control.

What the experts say: Men are problem-solvers and tend to bring up a problem only in order to search for its solution, says Schwarz. The "eureka" moment of problem-solving increases the level of dopamine, a pleasure-inducing chemical, in the brain. (This also explains why men will wait until it's absolutely necessary to stop and ask for directions.)

Women relieve stress by talking and relating their problems to others, which produces serotonin, said to enhance moods and ward off depression.

4. Men are impervious to cold

What you think: Men are content to freeze, while women always want to turn up the thermostat.

What the experts say: According to the Mayo Clinic, women are more sensitive to cold than men are, but not because they like to feel warm and cozy. Because women on average are smaller than men, their metabolic rate tends to be lower. This means their bodies generate less heat. They also tend to have less fat, which acts as insulation, on their upper bodies and around their waists, as well as less muscle mass, which also helps keep the body warm.

5. Women Love 'chick flicks'

What you think: Women prefer romantic movies (aka "chick flicks") while men like action and adventure.

What the experts say: Women may like romantic movies better than men, but in a 2007 study at Kansas State University, men rated romantic movies "higher than most people would have guessed," says psychology professor Richard Harris, who led the survey of 265 Kansas State students. On a scale of 1 to 7, men gave the movies a 4.8, while women rated them a 6.

However, "we found that when seeing the film on a date ... if one party makes the decision, then they stay true to those stereotypes, with guys choosing to go to a violent film and women choosing a romantic film," Harris told the Reuters news agency in January.

Jose Ferraro can relate. He spent New Year's Day at the theater, dozing through the romantic drama "Atonement" with his wife, Kyle.
advertisement

"She tricked me into going," says the 44-year-old engineer from Yorba Linda, California.

His wife, Kyle, a 49-year-old fitness instructor, fesses up: "I said there was some fighting in it," she admits.

Go to Opposite sex drives you crazy -- the causes from Edition, http://edition.cnn.com.This post was created with FASS.

mixedmedia · 07-12-2008, 08:03 AM

I think there is overwhelming evidence to contradict of all of the 'differences' posted here to be found right here on the threads of TFP.

I think the differences between men and women are more subtle and complex than we think and the more striking differences are simply personality differences, irrespective of gender.

And I think there are subconscious (and sometimes conscious) resentments and competitive urges between the sexes that make us want to pinpoint differences and give them a negative curve based on gender. I've seen this in myself. I think it's probably true to large extent.

UKking · 07-13-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixedmedia

I think there is overwhelming evidence to contradict of all of the 'differences' posted here to be found right here on the threads of TFP.

I think the differences between men and women are more subtle and complex than we think and the more striking differences are simply personality differences, irrespective of gender.

The article was referring to stereotypes that most people appear to operate on, but certainly not all. No way is it universal, nor does the article claim that, and I'm guessing you don't think the articles claiming that either... So I'm curious what precisely you mean. Do you mean to say that these stereotypes are false and don't, in fact, reflect a large segment of the population? Any way you can elaborate, or toss examples?

Quote:

And I think there are subconscious (and sometimes conscious) resentments and competitive urges between the sexes that make us want to pinpoint differences and give them a negative curve based on gender. I've seen this in myself. I think it's probably true to large extent.

I totally think you're on to something there. Agreed. Bias and insecurities color everything.

World's King · 07-13-2008, 06:28 AM

Oh how fun it is to stereotype...

mixedmedia · 07-13-2008, 06:28 AM

Are you referring to Hain's article?

I think the stereotypes are not reliable from my own experiences and the experiences of other people here at the TFP.

Women like to cuddle and men don't?
I don't find that to be true.

Women like to shop and men don't?
I don't find that to be true.

Women like chick flicks and men don't?
I don't find that to be true.

These things just don't coalesce with what I see.

ring · 07-13-2008, 07:03 AM

The first thing that came to mind when I read the OP was...

Plumbing..as GH noted, then 'Paychecks.'

Stereotypes are so tiresome.

Grasshopper Green · 07-13-2008, 12:06 PM

If you judged based on stereotypes, I'd be the man in my relationship and my husband would be the female. I think worrying about this question causes more problems than it solves. No one can be conveniently slotted into a niche simply because of their sex.

BTW, Tully...I loved your joke.

guthmund · 07-14-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I guess I do suck at subtle sarcasm

This why only my dogs laugh at my jokes.

Your alliteration skills, however, are spot on.

kate jack · 07-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Women's brains are different from men's – and here's scientific proof

Quote:

Men and women show differences in behaviour because their brains are physically distinct organs, new research suggests. Male and female brains appear to be constructed from markedly different genetic blueprints.

They also point out that if these differences are significant, women have been shortchanged by researchers, who generally study male patients.

Quote:

One of the reasons why physiological differences between male and female brains have not been widely noted before may be that most of what we know about the brain comes from studies of males, animals and human volunteers. "If even a small proportion of what has been inferred from these studies does not apply to females, it means a huge body of research has been built on shaky foundations," the review comments.

Professor Jeff Mogil from McGill University, in Montreal, Canada, who has demonstrated major differences in pain processing in males and females, puts it even more forcefully. He is astonished that so many researchers have failed to include female animals in their studies. "It's scandalous," he said. "Women are the most common pain sufferers, and yet our model for basic pain research is the male rat."

Here's a short list of some of the differences noted.

Quote:

A guide to the male and female control panels
DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING:
Controlled by the frontal lobe, which is proportionally larger in women.
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE:
Controlled by the limbic cortex, which is also proportionally larger in women.
SPATIAL PERCEPTION:
Controlled by the parietal cortex , which regulates how we move around. Proportionally larger in men.
EMOTIONAL MEMORY:
Controlled by the amygdala, which is proportionally larger in men. When recalling an emotionally charged scene, men enlist its right side, women its left. Men remember the gist of the scene, and women the details.
SUPPRESSION OF PAIN:
Controlled by the periaqueductal grey, an area of grey matter in the mid-brain, known to have a role in the suppression of pain in men but perhaps not in women.

girldetective · 07-23-2008, 03:52 PM

Chemicals. And it seems to me the the line can blur, that it is not absolute man/woman. Just yesterday my friend Chuck, a gay man in a gays man's body I guess, told me that I am a gay man in a woman's body.

It also seems to be a bitch to get elected president of the US if youre a woman.

abaya · 07-23-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixedmedia

I think there is overwhelming evidence to contradict of all of the 'differences' posted here to be found right here on the threads of TFP.

I think the differences between men and women are more subtle and complex than we think and the more striking differences are simply personality differences, irrespective of gender.

And I think there are subconscious (and sometimes conscious) resentments and competitive urges between the sexes that make us want to pinpoint differences and give them a negative curve based on gender. I've seen this in myself. I think it's probably true to large extent.

My thoughts as well--seems to be a lot of generalizing going on here. I suppose we're talking about the normal curve of society, though, and not the outliers (a lot of whom we see on TFP, and that's a good thing)...

In which case, one difference that seems to come up time and again (no matter how much I try to ignore it--among almost everyone I know, at various income levels and education and class, etc), is that it takes a little bit longer for the average male to notice "clutter," and to have the motivation to want to do something about it, compared to the average woman. In my limited observation, it's truly the rare male who is anxious about maintaining a state of constant tidiness in their household--they exist, but I know very few of them within my circles. Of course, there are plenty of women who could give a rat's ass about tidiness, too, so the stereotype breaks down on that side--as they always do.

UKking · 07-23-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girldetective

Chemicals. And it seems to me the the line can blur, that it is not absolute man/woman. Just yesterday my friend Chuck, a gay man in a gays man's body I guess, told me that I am a gay man in a woman's body.

It also seems to be a bitch to get elected president of the US if youre a woman.

^ It's probably impossible if you're a gay man in a woman's body.

genuinegirly · 07-23-2008, 05:58 PM

Every rule has an exception.

Women and men are only as different as we make them out to be.

Growing up, I was told a lot of things abomut the differences between men and women.

I was told that women can bear children. But my aunt never bore a child.
I was told that women work in the home. My pediatrician was a woman. My best friends' mothers worked in offices.
I was told that women are generally more nurturing. But I have come across women who were far from; men that were far more nurturing than myself.
I was told that women fall in love with men and men fall in love wth women. But then I met asexual, bisexual, and homosexual individuals.
I was told that women like to chit-chat. I have a couple of close guy friends that I call up when I need some solid "girl talk" because my female friends are not so inclined.

Over time, I have learned to ignore what I was taught and focus on the reality of the individual.

Miss Mango · 07-23-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girldetective

Chemicals. And it seems to me the the line can blur, that it is not absolute man/woman. Just yesterday my friend Chuck, a gay man in a gays man\'s body I guess, told me that I am a gay man in a woman\'s body.

It also seems to be a bitch to get elected president of the US if youre a woman.

German Prime Minister Andrea Merkel comes to mind...

The million dollar question to me is: If this tendency is generally true, is it prominent enough for us to even bother paying attention to it when deciding whether or not to, for instance, vote for Hillary Clinton...

CandleInTheDark · 07-26-2008, 05:24 PM

Men and women have different psycological and biological make-up that evolved independently (or co-evolved) from societal roles. Society copes with biology.

07-09-2008, 03:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
kate jack Tilted	What's the biggest difference between men and women? Aside from genetics ..... I'll go with... Women take comments to heart much more than men. Also, most women tend to over analyze conversations. Sometimes when a man replies to the "what are you thinking" question with "nothing" that is truly the case. They are able to just sit and stare at an inanimate object and not be contemplating the nature of their existence. They really aren't hiding anything, they just don't have an opinion on every little thing.

07-09-2008, 03:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	There's at least one of two reasons I can't answer this question... Either... A. I don't understand the what the differences are, least not completely. It's like a Rubic's cube when it's not solved. I know it's out of whack but I don't have a clue how to get it back to "right." Or... B. There isn't enough space left on the "internets" to write out all the reasons I think men are different from women. I'll let you decide which one's correct. Mainly because I don't know the answer myself. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

07-09-2008, 04:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Miss Mango, I think you missed Tully's joke He's a subtle one. One of the clear differences I see between the sexes on a daily basis in my work with small children is that at ages 5-6, boys are better with concrete thinking and things they can put their hands on, while girls are better at abstract thinking. This difference becomes less pronounced as kids get older; boys start catching up at 6-7 in abstract thinking, and vice-versa. Another difference--and this one is a gender difference--I see in adults that troubles me is how young men in particular seem petrified to ask for help, especially when it comes to mental health/mental issues. Women seem to be more comfortable with that, though I'm sure as with all things, there are exceptions. I think that the construct of gender is partially responsible for this. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

07-09-2008, 04:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	I guess I do suck at subtle sarcasm This why only my dogs laugh at my jokes. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

07-10-2008, 05:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	From "The Secrets of Married Men" from Psychology Today: The average woman uses 7,000 words a day and five tones of speech, [psychiatrist Scott Haltzman] points out. The average man uses 2,000 words and three tones. "Men are talk-impaired, relatively speaking," he says. I can relate to that. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

07-09-2008, 03:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Miss Mango Psycho	How we communicate.

07-09-2008, 05:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
UKking Crazy	Nature vs. nurture. The way that parents have consistently fucked up when raising their kids to make society happy.

07-09-2008, 08:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
newtx Addict	I have always heard this and it rings of truth. Men marry women hoping they will never change and women marry men hoping to change them. Therein lies the problem........................................

07-10-2008, 05:56 AM	#14 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	BINGO!!!! __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

07-10-2008, 06:03 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Guys fuck and girls make love.

07-10-2008, 06:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	Yeah, and women need a reason to have sex... men just need a place. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

07-10-2008, 07:32 AM	#19 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	apart from the jatz crackers? everything __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

07-10-2008, 12:13 PM	#20 (permalink)
Giant Hamburger Gastrolithuanian Location: low-velocity Earth orbit	plumbing

07-11-2008, 02:18 AM	#21 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	men are hunter/gatherers and women are nurturers. men need to feed their ego and constantly get promoted - even if they can't handle the next job - while women find something they like and become content with it. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

07-11-2008, 08:42 AM	#22 (permalink)
Pholeus Upright Location: Irvine, CA	I'd definitely go with communication as well. Which is why i find it strange that I'm the one who communicates more and my girlfriend is the closed off one.

07-11-2008, 10:30 AM	#23 (permalink)
Lubeboy Crazy	women love drama, men don't.

07-12-2008, 08:03 AM	#27 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	I think there is overwhelming evidence to contradict of all of the 'differences' posted here to be found right here on the threads of TFP. I think the differences between men and women are more subtle and complex than we think and the more striking differences are simply personality differences, irrespective of gender. And I think there are subconscious (and sometimes conscious) resentments and competitive urges between the sexes that make us want to pinpoint differences and give them a negative curve based on gender. I've seen this in myself. I think it's probably true to large extent. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

07-13-2008, 06:28 AM	#29 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	Oh how fun it is to stereotype... __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

07-13-2008, 06:28 AM	#30 (permalink)
mixedmedia has all her shots. Location: Florida	Are you referring to Hain's article? I think the stereotypes are not reliable from my own experiences and the experiences of other people here at the TFP. Women like to cuddle and men don't? I don't find that to be true. Women like to shop and men don't? I don't find that to be true. Women like chick flicks and men don't? I don't find that to be true. These things just don't coalesce with what I see. __________________ Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

07-13-2008, 07:03 AM	#31 (permalink)
ring ░ Location: ❤	The first thing that came to mind when I read the OP was... Plumbing..as GH noted, then 'Paychecks.' Stereotypes are so tiresome.

07-13-2008, 12:06 PM	#32 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	If you judged based on stereotypes, I'd be the man in my relationship and my husband would be the female. I think worrying about this question causes more problems than it solves. No one can be conveniently slotted into a niche simply because of their sex. BTW, Tully...I loved your joke. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

07-23-2008, 03:52 PM	#35 (permalink)
girldetective sufferable	Chemicals. And it seems to me the the line can blur, that it is not absolute man/woman. Just yesterday my friend Chuck, a gay man in a gays man's body I guess, told me that I am a gay man in a woman's body. It also seems to be a bitch to get elected president of the US if youre a woman. __________________ As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons...be cheerful; strive for happiness - Desiderata

07-23-2008, 05:58 PM	#38 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	Every rule has an exception. Women and men are only as different as we make them out to be. Growing up, I was told a lot of things abomut the differences between men and women. I was told that women can bear children. But my aunt never bore a child. I was told that women work in the home. My pediatrician was a woman. My best friends' mothers worked in offices. I was told that women are generally more nurturing. But I have come across women who were far from; men that were far more nurturing than myself. I was told that women fall in love with men and men fall in love wth women. But then I met asexual, bisexual, and homosexual individuals. I was told that women like to chit-chat. I have a couple of close guy friends that I call up when I need some solid "girl talk" because my female friends are not so inclined. Over time, I have learned to ignore what I was taught and focus on the reality of the individual. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

07-26-2008, 05:24 PM	#40 (permalink)
CandleInTheDark Addict Location: Where the music's loudest	Men and women have different psycological and biological make-up that evolved independently (or co-evolved) from societal roles. Society copes with biology. __________________ Where there is doubt there is freedom.