Sunday, August 29, 2004
Sex differences. Matter.
CULTURE & COSMOS
August 17, 2004 Volume 2, Number 2
Ignoring Sex Differences Harms Society, Studies Show
Women, men and their children are not well served by a society that
fails to acknowledge the inherit differences between the sexes according
to Steven E. Rhoads, the author of a new book that presents the case that
gender differences are based in nature and are not the result of a social
construction. Drawing from an abundance of social science data and
biological research catalogued in his new book, Taking Sex Difference
Seriously, Rhoads spoke to a packed lecture hall at the Heritage
Foundation in Washington DC last week.
A professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more
than 30 years, Rhoads argued that masculinity and femininity are not
constructed and he stressed that much of the differences between the
sexes have firm roots in biology. He said the amount of testosterone
babies are exposed to in the womb have a lot to do with how they turn
out. Rhoads cited a study that reported that male infants are already
more aggressive than females by the age of 16 months. That men are more
aggressive, he said, is born out by the fact that there are 28 men in jail
for killing another man for every woman incarcerated for killing another
woman.
Rhoads said one area where society has suffered due to the denial of
this basic difference is in mens sports. Current law requires women to be
equally represented in college athletics. Because womens interest in
playing sports is not as high as mens many schools have had to cut mens
programs. Rhoads is concerned that many men who need organized sports as
an outlet for their aggression will turn to less appropriate outlets.
Rhoads also said that a wealth of research indicates women are better
nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with
their children to pursuing a professional career. He says that children
benefit from having their mothers home as well. In countries where the law
requires both men and women to be given time off for the birth of child,
surveys indicate that men are much more likely to want to return to their
jobs than women.
Even when women are fulfilled in their career, Rhoads said children
suffer. Rhoads pointed to one study that showed that the more mothers
loved their job the less mentally healthy their teen-daughters were. But
mental health for teen girls improved as their fathers job satisfaction
increased. Another study reveled that chemicals reflecting stress
increased in small boys while in daycare and were lower on the weekend
when the boys were with their mothers.
Much of the data Rhoads cites about men make them out to be cads. By
nature, he said, men tend to seek multiple sexual partners and eschew
commitment. But Rhoads did say that men seem to have a natural aptitude
for fulfilling duty. One study showed that in unhappy marriages men were
more likely to stick it out because of concern for the wife, while women
were less concerned with hurting their spouse by calling it quits.
While Rhoads book is not intended to offer government solutions to the
problems that have come from the androgyny of the sexes, he did suggest
some simple policy changes. First and foremost Rhoads would end Title IX,
the US law that requires gender equity in college sports. Rhoads also
notes that many state text book committees have strict rules that limit
how women can be portrayed. Some rules require that women never be shown
performing household tasks or holding a baby. Rhoads says such rules ought
to be changed. Rhoads also calls on changing the tax code to offer
incentives for one parent to stay home with their children.
Copyright, 2004 --- Culture of Life Foundation.
Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.
Culture of Life Foundation
1413 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-2500 Fax: (202) 289-2502
E-mail: clf@culture-of-life.org
Website: http://www.culture-of-life.org
August 17, 2004 Volume 2, Number 2
Ignoring Sex Differences Harms Society, Studies Show
Women, men and their children are not well served by a society that
fails to acknowledge the inherit differences between the sexes according
to Steven E. Rhoads, the author of a new book that presents the case that
gender differences are based in nature and are not the result of a social
construction. Drawing from an abundance of social science data and
biological research catalogued in his new book, Taking Sex Difference
Seriously, Rhoads spoke to a packed lecture hall at the Heritage
Foundation in Washington DC last week.
A professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more
than 30 years, Rhoads argued that masculinity and femininity are not
constructed and he stressed that much of the differences between the
sexes have firm roots in biology. He said the amount of testosterone
babies are exposed to in the womb have a lot to do with how they turn
out. Rhoads cited a study that reported that male infants are already
more aggressive than females by the age of 16 months. That men are more
aggressive, he said, is born out by the fact that there are 28 men in jail
for killing another man for every woman incarcerated for killing another
woman.
Rhoads said one area where society has suffered due to the denial of
this basic difference is in mens sports. Current law requires women to be
equally represented in college athletics. Because womens interest in
playing sports is not as high as mens many schools have had to cut mens
programs. Rhoads is concerned that many men who need organized sports as
an outlet for their aggression will turn to less appropriate outlets.
Rhoads also said that a wealth of research indicates women are better
nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with
their children to pursuing a professional career. He says that children
benefit from having their mothers home as well. In countries where the law
requires both men and women to be given time off for the birth of child,
surveys indicate that men are much more likely to want to return to their
jobs than women.
Even when women are fulfilled in their career, Rhoads said children
suffer. Rhoads pointed to one study that showed that the more mothers
loved their job the less mentally healthy their teen-daughters were. But
mental health for teen girls improved as their fathers job satisfaction
increased. Another study reveled that chemicals reflecting stress
increased in small boys while in daycare and were lower on the weekend
when the boys were with their mothers.
Much of the data Rhoads cites about men make them out to be cads. By
nature, he said, men tend to seek multiple sexual partners and eschew
commitment. But Rhoads did say that men seem to have a natural aptitude
for fulfilling duty. One study showed that in unhappy marriages men were
more likely to stick it out because of concern for the wife, while women
were less concerned with hurting their spouse by calling it quits.
While Rhoads book is not intended to offer government solutions to the
problems that have come from the androgyny of the sexes, he did suggest
some simple policy changes. First and foremost Rhoads would end Title IX,
the US law that requires gender equity in college sports. Rhoads also
notes that many state text book committees have strict rules that limit
how women can be portrayed. Some rules require that women never be shown
performing household tasks or holding a baby. Rhoads says such rules ought
to be changed. Rhoads also calls on changing the tax code to offer
incentives for one parent to stay home with their children.
Copyright, 2004 --- Culture of Life Foundation.
Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.
Culture of Life Foundation
1413 K Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC 20005
Phone: (202) 289-2500 Fax: (202) 289-2502
E-mail: clf@culture-of-life.org
Website: http://www.culture-of-life.org
