The difference between men and women.

[Edbear]

Wasn't sure which forum to post this in and I have an idea it may head in a certain direction. However my previous threads, such as "What is a man?" provoked a lot of thought and some very interesting responses.

So I'd like to know your thoughts on the differences between men and women and why they are so.

In most Mammals the male of the species is larger and stronger than the female and this is the rule in human beings. At first you may laugh and scoff, but if you think about it, why are men bigger and stronger than women? Why are men's brains, emotional makeup and mental processes different from women's?

These are physical differences and nothing to do with personal preferences, general intelligence or the odd exception to the rule.

If you take your time and ponder over this before you post, you may be surprised at what you find out.

[Winston001]

It all comes down to genetics. Our genes need to be expressed and survive into the next generation.

To do so, the male must be physically strong in order to overwhelm protein sources (meat), defend himself, and protect his mate and their children. Provide and protect. Additionally the male isn't particular about who bears his children so is always ready for a spot of extra procreation just to ensure his gene pool dominates.

Women do not need the physical mass of the male as their energy is focused on harvesting seeds, berries etc, cherishing the children, and providing a safe place for all of them to live. Bearing another man's child is fraught with danger because she cannot rely upon the other man, and her mate will reject both her and the child.

There are variations such as lionesses which are more fierce than the males, but still don't grow as large.

[rainman]

So I'd like to know your thoughts on the differences between men and women and why they are so.

In most Mammals the male of the species is larger and stronger than the female and this is the rule in human beings. At first you may laugh and scoff, but if you think about it, why are men bigger and stronger than women?

Because it made evolutionary sense: women bore children and cared for them (couldn't hunt to the degree men did as they were protecting the sprogs), men went out and hunted/foraged. Wimpy men turned into sabre tooth snacks, wimpy women couldn't handle the rigours of childbirth (tougher then than now, and it's not a walk in the park now). Big women were at an evolutionary disadvantage as they needed more food (although there is an interesting thought there about co-operation I might come back to), big men were more successful so were selected for, but up to basic biological and food efficiency limits. (What's the relationship between body mass and calorific requirements? Linear or non-linear?)

This logic holds true for all of the species I can think of where females bear and nurture offspring - particularly true for us given gestation period and relative helplessness of newborn humans, of course.

Why are men's brains, emotional makeup and mental processes different from women's?

Before I can answer that - in what key ways do you think they are different? I agree they are - just not sure of what perspective you are bringing here. It's easy to do real science with body mass and physical strength - more subjective measures like "emotional makeup" are open to a great deal more interpretation.

[Edbear]

That is what many if not most people would respond with, but physical size is really irrelevant to your points. As your example of the Lion suggests. The Lioness does most of the hunting, but is not necessarily more fierce than the male. An aroused male is virtually unstoppable though appears to have less stamina than the female generally.

In humans there is no reason why it should be the way it is from the purely physical side of the equation.

You make an interesting point though,as regards the male protecting the female. Why? Again he does not need to be physically larger than the female to do so, this is an instinctive trait of men in general and unrelated to size.

Why is the woman smaller and weaker? She need not be. My thread about "What is a Man?" explored why are men not only physically stronger but also mentally and emotionally stronger. Why is man dominant?

[Winston001]

Why is the woman smaller and weaker? She need not be. My thread about "What is a Man?" explored why are men not only physically stronger but also mentally and emotionally stronger. Why is man dominant?

Say whut?? You must be having a laugh Ed. The genders are balanced, no dominant/weak split. If you were right, the dominance would be more of one sex than the other - which doesn't happen.

Your core question should be - why are there two sexes?? Even among plants. Why has evolution removed the ability to self-propagate?

[Edbear]

Rainman your answer is also the normal response, but passes over some salient points. Mankind has not just been hunter-gatherers, but has always harvested both animals and crops and lived in societies for mutual benefit. His superior intelligence has ensured his survival and prosperity when his physical vulnerability would otherwise have led to his extinction.

Regards emotional strength, while it may at first appear to be abscure, it is a medically proven fact that men are indeed stronger in every way generally than women. Ther are exceptions certainly and there are some very weak men and some very strong women, but I'm talking as a species.

[Edbear]

Say whut?? You must be having a laugh Ed. The genders are balanced, no dominant/weak split. If you were right, the dominance would be more of one sex than the other - which doesn't happen.

Your core question should be - why are there two sexes?? Even among plants. Why has evolution removed the ability to self-propagate?

That is also an interesting question. Why are there male and female in any species?

However, as I said it is scientific that there are the differences I have posted between the sexes and it is undeniable that men are the dominant creature on this planet. This cannot be solely attributed to physical size and strength as it is a simple thing for a woman to kill a man and even easier for most animals to kill a man.

[Fatt Max]

One of us have beards and willies, the other is the male....

That is, of course, if you are living in Iran

[Winston001]

Mankind has not just been hunter-gatherers, but has always harvested both animals and crops and lived in societies for mutual benefit. His superior intelligence has ensured his survival and prosperity when his physical vulnerability would otherwise have led to his extinction.

This is fun, good on you Ed. Ok - crops as such only appeared when agriculture was discovered about 12000 years ago. Very recent invention. Prior to that it was hunter/gatherer nomadic survival for hundreds of thousands of years. Man is a communal animal as are the chimpanzees. Intelligence appears to be linked to firstly tool use and secondly the discovery of language.

Regards emotional strength, while it may at first appear to be abscure, it is a medically proven fact that men are indeed stronger in every way generally than women. Ther are exceptions certainly and there are some very weak men and some very strong women, but I'm talking as a species.

Sources please.

[Edbear]

This is fun, good on you Ed. Ok - crops as such only appeared when agriculture was discovered about 12000 years ago. Very recent invention. Prior to that it was hunter/gatherer nomadic survival for hundreds of thousands of years. Man is a communal animal as are the chimpanzees. Intelligence appears to be linked to firstly tool use and secondly the discovery of language.



Sources please.

Okay, but it's my bedtime I'll post again tomorrow. My purpose was to get people thinking and have a bit of fun at the same time. Sorry I can't stay up later, I'm usually in bed by about 7pm these days.

[howdamnhard]

Your core question should be - why are there two sexes?? Even among plants. Why has evolution removed the ability to self-propagate?

Sex allows species to mix their gene pools and provide variation. If we self replicated/propagated we would be essentially clones with one immune system.Apparently we can smell a potential partners immune sys and pick partners with the most different from our own. One strain of disease coming along would wipe out the entire race. With variety only some of the race would die out due .

[SS90]

Why is the woman smaller and weaker? She need not be. My thread about "What is a Man?" explored why are men not only physically stronger but also mentally and emotionally stronger. Why is man dominant?

WTF?

You still think that men are emotionally and mentally stronger than women?

Really, dude, what sort of chicks do you hang out with......?

[SS90]

Why is the woman smaller and weaker? She need not be. My thread about "What is a Man?" explored why are men not only physically stronger but also mentally and emotionally stronger. Why is man dominant?

WTF?

You still think that men are emotionally and mentally stronger than women?

Really, dude, what sort of chicks do you hang out with......?

[Edbear]

WTF?

You still think that men are emotionally and mentally stronger than women?

Really, dude, what sort of chicks do you hang out with......?

Not based on personal experience, mate. Sure, I'm stronger than my wife, but it doesn't mean my wife is weak or doesn't have a voice and a strength of her own. Most women I know are independent thinkers with intelligence and their own strengths and weaknesses just like men.

I know men who are weak whimps and I know women who are domineering and strong-willed, but as I said, if you look at mankind as a species, the male is the stronger, dominant one, if he weren't women would rule the world instead. Note my point in post #7 above.

For a bit of controversy, try this... IMHO too many men are whimps, unwilling for selfish reasons to act like men, that is as a protector and nourisher of women due to sexual desire and see women as bodies, not people. Too many offer weak excuses to abdicate their role because they just want to be animals and have sex with as many women as possible for as long as possible with no thought of what is in the woman's best interests. In short, too many men let their dicks do their thinking for them.

Where is their self-discipline, their self-control for the common good?

[Edbear]

Sex allows species to mix their gene pools and provide variation. If we self replicated/propagated we would be essentially clones with one immune system.Apparently we can smell a potential partners immune sys and pick partners with the most different from our own. One strain of disease coming along would wipe out the entire race. With variety only some of the race would die out due .

Not really, if you look at self-propagation, in every species of plant or animal, reproduction is effectively accomplished whichever way it is done. Nature is beautifully balanced and incredibly designed for survival. My point is why things are the way they are, not that the way they are works well.

So, yes, mixing the gene pool and the huge variety in mankind is good and beneficial, but that is because of the way man is physically. So is the fact that we have so much variation in our preferences and in what we find attractive, otherwise we would all be after the same type of partner.