Gender & intelligence

[Jadefeather7]

I’ve been having a discussion with someone who thinks that there are differences in male & female brains (I think they believe women are less intelligent although they haven’t yet said this). It seems that studies on this subject are inconclusive. Has anyone got any insight on this topic they could share? Thanks!

As a bloke, I would think that the brains are different between the sexes.
I would say on the whole, that males are generally more violent/aggressive/domineering than females and that is down to nature. When a female displays those characteristics, I think it is more likely to be down to nurture, someone's upbringing, peer groups, career path.
I think women have more empathy than men, although there are examples which go against the rule - Gina Haspel, Imelda Marcos, Hilary Clinton.

Equality is related to opportunity and to fairness

It is only fair if everyone is considered on their merits , as an individual. It is not equality if the best person is refused a job because on average people like them would not be capable of doing that job. Because you are looking for an individual to do the job, not an average person.

we know we need to continually evaluate and compensate for societal discrimination

Observation of a female male difference in some aspect could be useful in helping that evaluation. So if women were better at nursing, you could say equality would look like only 30% of nurses being male. But you would not want to refuse all males nursing jobs just because they were Male, because a good male nurse would be better than the average female at nursing.

@Gronky I think there’s a tendency to infantilise women so if there was some incontrovertible evidence that women are intellectually inferior they would argue for a hierarchy like the parent child one (which exists because children don’t have fully developed cognitive abilities)

I think he would also probably say that he would take on a role he didn’t like for the greater good of society

@attackedbycritters thanks I’m trying to adopt that argument for gender roles within relationships ie why should the woman be submissive if in fact she is better suited to the role of the dominant partner. I think I will be told that in general more women are suited to the submissive role and anyone who isn’t is an exception and rules can’t be based on the exception

Exceptions only work if they are truely exceptional, ie so rare that you would be unlikely to ever encounter them.

The exception that proves the rule is a cliche for people who are not capable of challenging their thinking. A phrase I heard often from racists

When I write code I make sure I have code for each possible exception.less efficient perhaps than the norm but totally valid, and here we are talking human beings.

if there was some incontrovertible evidence that women are intellectually inferior they would argue for a hierarchy like the parent child one (which exists because children don’t have fully developed cognitive abilities)

I would say that a submissive role is very different from the requirement for children to be cared for. If women were incapable of self care in the same way as children then they certainly shouldn't be required to provide care for others (i.e. children). There may be no legal minimum age for a child to be left alone but, for example, I don't believe leaving two 10 year olds alone would be judged any less harshly than leaving one alone at home for a prolonged period.

I think he would also probably say that he would take on a role he didn’t like for the greater good of society

If he does believe that (and I'm assuming you disagree) then I would point out that the relative suitability of men and women to various roles is irrelevant because you believe in self determination.

You can't talk about a brain without hormones, it doesn't exist

Definitely! Recall watching the programme about the man who became 'a mother' - Freddy (Seahorses). Freddy stopped the cross sex/'trans' hormones in order to become pregnant; but shortly after the baby's birth was very keen to start taking testosterone again.

Fredy felt deeply uncomfortable with the feelings of 'softness' and vulnerability that giving birth engendered - and couldn't wait to become 'hard' and in control again.

I personally felt this was a very selfish act........which would interfere with the mother-child bond/relationship & the natural 'rush' of feeling towards the child. Hormones are powerful substances.

There are obviously many forms of 'intelligence', though. Flexibility, adaptability and quick wittedness are the precursors of intelligence of any persuasion.

I think I will be told that in general more women are suited to the submissive role and anyone who isn’t is an exception and rules can’t be based on the exception

This seems to be missing the point that there's absolutely no benefit to making such a 'rule' based on a generalisation (even if it actually was something with a genuine inherent basis rather than the product of existing culture and socialisation, or a stereotype which happened to be convenient to males).

It's surely much better that everyone is treated as an individual who should be encouraged and enabled to fulfil their individual potential. There is simply no need to place constraints based on a persons sex any more than on the colour of their skin.

So ... if someone tries to 'tell' you that sort of thing, take a step back and tell them they first must make a case for imposing limiting 'rules' in the first place.

And - in the unlikely event they can actually come up with a reason for having 'rules' based on an incredibly broad generalisation - what is the basis for assuming that such a thing as a 'submissive role' is a necessary or desirable thing in a relationship? The only type of people I can imagine thinking this is preferable to a partnership of equals is either someone with considerable inadequacies or a controlling type.

Not regarding intelligence, but the hippocampus (memory, etc):
May, 2020
SexDifferencesMemoryRegion
UQ - Australian University