5 False Myths About Gender Differences (Page 5)

Myth #5: Women Are More Intuitive
Many women pride themselves on their powers of intuition, but new research reveals that intuitive, empathic thinking isn’t solely the province of ladies. A study conducted at the University of Hertfordshire in Great Britain tested subjects’ ability to decipher real smiles from fake ones. Although more women than men reported that they were “highly intuitive,” there was virtually no corresponding improvement in performance. Men detected 72 percent of the real smiles to women’s 71 percent. When asked specifically to decipher the expressions of the opposite sex, men did even better. They detected 76 percent of false female smiles, while women picked out only 67 percent of men’s fake smiles. Intuition is traditionally considered a female attribute, but research such as this shows that men’s and women’s abilities are just about even.

According to psychologist Janet Shibley Hyde, whose article “The Gender Similarities Hypothesis” was published in the September 2005 issue of the American Psychologist, there are only a few areas in which men and women are substantially different. They differ in measures of motor performance in tasks like speed and throwing power (since after puberty, men are bigger and have more muscle mass), and in certain facets of and attitudes about sexuality. Also, women and men differ in expression of aggression: men exhibit more physical aggression, while women score higher on tests of relational aggression and verbal bullying.

Reinforcing stereotypes about men and women is damaging; it can prevent people from expressing themselves, and it solidifies outdated gender roles. Some women may talk more than their husbands and some men may be more competitive than their wives, but those differences are created by society, not biology. Anyone who’s been in a marital argument can attest that sometimes it seems like his or her partner is on a separate planet. But the truth is that men and women are far more alike than we are different.

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Leila M.

6:49PM PDT on Oct 8, 2012

I know that it's all false, but the fact is there a lot of people believe in these alleged facts. The prejudice is there.

October 8
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Laura M.

10:03AM PDT on Apr 11, 2012

THANK. YOU.
myths like these are an unnecessary hindrance on our society.

April 11
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Past Member .

11:03PM PST on Jan 4, 2012

they're just stereotypes.

January 4
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Naomi M.

9:37PM PST on Nov 27, 2011

Interesting, but I don't think these stereotypes are that prevalent, especially the one about math

November 27
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jessica w.

5:53PM PDT on Oct 11, 2011

thanks

October 11
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Sarah M.

1:51PM PDT on Oct 1, 2011

thanks for the great article

October 1
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Kathy P.

7:43AM PDT on Aug 13, 2011

super interesting. Thanks for posting!

August 13
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jane r.

8:29PM PDT on Aug 6, 2011

noted

August 6
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d b.

12:13AM PDT on Jun 21, 2011

June 21
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Carole K.

8:50AM PDT on Jun 20, 2011

This article illustrates the self fulfilling principle workings of cultural gender biases. We become what we expect to be; & some aspects of that is define by our society. So, can we move beyond this tired, old debate & move on to create a world where each person contributes according to their own strengths irregardless of sexual identification? I hope so......