Gender differences & emotions

32 replies

Purplelemon7 · 08/12/2020 23:06

I’m having a discussion with someone over whether women are 1)less rational and more emotional and 2)less able to cope with stress

They have cited this article to me (which includes a lot of empirical studies):
www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/sexual-personalities/201504/are-women-more-emotional-men
It talks about women experiencing more negative emotions than men. My response to that would be that that’s only natural for a group that is more oppressed and discriminated against.

For part 2 I think this is the relevant study:
psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-20320-009
I’m less sure about what to say to this one.

I’m just starting out on my journey to trying to better understand feminism and I’m not a scientist. I would love to hear some of your thoughts. Thank you.

OP posts:

Muckish · 08/12/2020 23:33

Why is that difficult? I only read the abstract, but it strikes me as entirely in line with female socialisation that a group with less power and socialised to be more attuned to family/caring responsibilities experiences life as more negative and less controllable and somatises the stress...?

SonEtLumiere · 08/12/2020 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Purplelemon7 · 08/12/2020 23:27

@DancelikeEmmaGoldman Yes that an important point about how emotional or negative emotions are defined because a typically male emotion (anger) is negative.

I guess I’m really stuck on point two. Women and stress.

OP posts:

DancelikeEmmaGoldman · 08/12/2020 23:21

There are few emotions less rational than anger, and men generally aren’t shy of displaying that.

It’s not a matter of who has a full range of emotions, but how we’ve been socialised into believing some emotions and emotional displays, are more “appropriate”, depending on your sex.

But you’re on a losing battle with this; studies won’t change his mind. I’d say, “do you really believe something so ridiculous”, and walk away.

nowishtofly · 08/12/2020 23:14

"I disagree but you are entitled to your misguided opinion" works for me.

Original poster

Purplelemon7 · 08/12/2020 23:11

Women in general, on average, as compared to men

OP posts:

DeaconBoo · 08/12/2020 23:10

whether women are 1)less rational and more emotional and 2)less able to cope with stress

Which women are they referring to?

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