https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132190-100-how-neuroscience-is-exploding-the-myth-of-male-and-female-brains/
In this article, Gina Rippon discusses whether stereotypes men and women face are actually realistic and whether differences found in men and women’s behaviour are due to the brain or other parts of the body. She starts the article by stating common stereotypes faced by men and women. These include ‘men are good at map-reading’ and ‘women can multitask and do empathy and intuition better.’ She also goes on to say that most people believe in these stereotypes as it is not only their sexual characteristics that distinguish men and women, but also their brains, which influences their behaviour. Many people agree with these stereotypes, including ex Google employee, James Damore who said that ‘women’s high level of empathy and lower interest in coding made them less suited to Google-type work.’ Rippon disagrees with this way of thinking, saying that ‘if you want to know what underpins differences between men and women in ability, behaviour, temperament and even lifestyle choices, you will find the answers in genes, genitals and gonads.’ Rippon believes that as our brains are plastic and have the ability to be moulded, and because of the slow recognition that gender identity and sexual characteristics don’t fit into a binary division, the stereotypical ‘differences’ between men and women are in fact a myth. It is only because these stereotypes are hardwired into our brains throughout life that we start to believe they are true, when in fact newer research conducted proves that there is no such thing, as the differences between men and women’s brains, and therefore in their behaviour, are minimal.
In this article, Gina Rippon discusses whether stereotypes men and women face are actually realistic and whether differences found in men and women’s behaviour are due to the brain or other parts of the body. She starts the article by stating common stereotypes faced by men and women. These include ‘men are good at map-reading’ and ‘women can multitask and do empathy and intuition better.’ She also goes on to say that most people believe in these stereotypes as it is not only their sexual characteristics that distinguish men and women, but also their brains, which influences their behaviour. Many people agree with these stereotypes, including ex Google employee, James Damore who said that ‘women’s high level of empathy and lower interest in coding made them less suited to Google-type work.’ Rippon disagrees with this way of thinking, saying that ‘if you want to know what underpins differences between men and women in ability, behaviour, temperament and even lifestyle choices, you will find the answers in genes, genitals and gonads.’ Rippon believes that as our brains are plastic and have the ability to be moulded, and because of the slow recognition that gender identity and sexual characteristics don’t fit into a binary division, the stereotypical ‘differences’ between men and women are in fact a myth. It is only because these stereotypes are hardwired into our brains throughout life that we start to believe they are true, when in fact newer research conducted proves that there is no such thing, as the differences between men and women’s brains, and therefore in their behaviour, are minimal.
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