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Perspective
Is the Male Gray
Matter Muscular Too?
by
Soma Guru
 You sometimes wonder what makes men react to situations the way they do
which is so different from what you, I mean we, as women would do in a
similar situation. Why does he go so much into the football match when
you want to talk about your plants. And the way he discusses about golf,
oh Goddess. Wish he was a little more aesthetic towards my frames. And
why is it that they all think and react the same way and so different
from us... Men and women of every culture, creed and hue constantly
argue over their partners' opinions, behavior, attitudes and beliefs.
Men dominate TV remote controls and love to murf; women don't mind
watching the commercials. Your man has hit the bar early today, he is
under pressure, silly you, you should understand. Who would not agree
women have better ways fighting out her stress, a trip to the malls and
an indulge in chocolates does all the magic.
Men, we all wish to brand them, are insensitive, uncaring, not
listening, not being warm and compassionate, not talking, not giving
enough love, not being committed to relationships, wanting to have sex
rather than make love, turning the temperature down, and leaving the
toilet seat up.
Men criticize women about their driving, for not being able to read
street directories, for not being able to navigate rightly, for their
lack of a sense of direction, for talking too much without getting to
the point, for not initiating sex often enough, turning the temperature
up, and for leaving the toilet seat down. As a boyfriend this species
always claimed that he hates mess and loves his things to be in order,
as his role shifts from a friend to the husband he is always groping for
his underpants and socks, and forgets that he was the clean freak once
when he throws the shoes as and where he thinks it needs to be
exhibited. But dare one try and mess up his collection of CDs, they are
always in order. Women can always find the missing set of car keys. If a
woman is out driving and gets lost, she would never mind to stop and ask
for directions. A man on the other hand would cease to be a man if he
would ask for some directional help. Men think they're the most sensible
sex. Women know they are. How many men contribute to the cleaning of the
toilet. It's unknown. It would have never happened.
If you love to cycle more and love to watch sports for sure your brain
is more muscular than your counter sisters you are nicknamed tomboy. How
many of us had parents who would have appreciated some kind of
aggressiveness that we would have shown for some reason or the other, as
women /girls are not supposed to be aggressive. Men still are not very
open about their facials and moisturizing lest he will be laughed at. It
is sad but true that work has been always understood as central to the
lives of men, a major basis of their identity, it is often seen as been
identified with masculinity. Beauty and caring on the other hand are
often viewed as something intrinsically feminine. Men and women have
always been torn between such differences in their thought processes,
finally for them to be branded to have been from different planets.
A study has found that there are subtle genetic variations in their
brains. The researchers have identified hundreds of genes that are
switched on and off differently in the male and female brains, a finding
which also suggests that many behavior patterns regarded as typical of
each sex could be actually founded on the nature vs nurture issue.
According to the researchers men and women also differ in their approach
to finding sexual partners. men generally place a higher value on youth
and good looks, while women are often more attracted by status, the
study found.
Researchers have provided scientific proof that the brains of men and
women are physically distinct, which means that men and women show
differences in behavior because their brains are physically distinct
organs (eureka, does that mean our brains are fairer). Male and female
brains appear to be constructed from markedly different genetic
blueprints, the team says.
The differences in the circuitry that wires them up and the chemicals
that transmit messages inside them are so stark as to point to the
conclusion that there is not just one kind of human brain, but two,
according to recent neurological studies.
According to a review of recent neurological research appearing in this
weeks New Scientist magazine, it is becoming clear that the
brains of men and women show numerous anatomical differences. Some of
these divergences could explain a number of mysteries such as why men
and women are prone to different mental health problems, why some drugs
work well for one sex but have little effect on the other, and why
chronic pain tends to affect women more than men. Although it has been
long known that there were some male female differences, it was thought
they were confined to the hypothalamus, the brain region involved in
regulating food intake, fighting and the sex drive among other things.
But it is becoming clear that the relative sizes of many of the
structures inside the female brains are different from those of males.
The mere fact that a structure is different in size suggests a
difference in functional organization, said Dr. Larry Cahill of the
Centre for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, at the University of
California.
One school of thought believes that men are socialized to idealize blue,
physical strength, success, manliness, competition and aggression.
sports embodies all of these things. Women are socialized to idealize
physical beauty, material things and their appearance. Women are also
supposed to make a comfortable home, traditionally. All of these require
the acquisition of physical goods, often, which explains that a lot of
women like/have to shop. So according to this school these stereotypes
exist because of how men and women are traditionally socialized
everywhere.
Confusing I guess. The stereotyping whether it is due to physiological
differences or whether it is ingrained in our societal pressures and
upbringing the simple fact is we think different. To make it simple and
logical and when done two plus two, it is what our researchers claim,
our brains are different, plus what sociologists say ,that stereo typing
of pink and blue is a traditional socializing process, the demarcation
gets much stronger and solid. And to repeat, the fundamental problem
here is simple: men and women are different. Not better or worse - just
different. Women basically are very basic in nature they know how to get
peace and derive pleasure out of sweet small little nothings. Isn't it
is wiser therefore not to be torn apart between the age old debate of
gender ideologies. But have to agree that men n women do think
differently, not better or worse-different. It's only by understanding
the differences between men and women that we can really start building
on our collective strengths - rather than on our individual weaknesses.
For all the times to come, all Allans would say that women cant read
maps and of course all Barbaras would scream their hair off to say that
men never listen.
February 22, 2009
Image under license with Gettyimages.com
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