Understanding The Difference Between Men And Women

[ This paper is collection of research conclusions and observations which I have witnessed over the past 5 year that I have attempted to put into a written form that might be helpful, but more importantly stimulate discussions. The real purposes is to increase the awareness between men and women, and to help them set aside issues that are not personal but are merely manifestations of nature. To my way of thinking, it is important to honor and rejoice in both our nature and our individuality.]

For centuries, the differences between men and women were socially defined and distorted through a lens of sexism in which men assumed superiority over women and maintained it through domination. As the goal of equality between men and women now grows closer we are also losing our awareness of important differences. In some circles of society, politically correct thinking is obliterating important discussion as well as our awareness of the similarities and differences between men and women. The vision of equality between the sexes has narrowed the possibilities for discovery of what truly exists within a man and within a woman. The world is less interesting when everything is same.
It is my position that men and women are equal but different. When I say equal, I mean that men and women have a right to equal opportunity and protection under the law. The fact that people in this country are assured these rights does not negate my observation that men and women are at least as different psychologically as they are physically.
None of us would argue the fact that men and women are physically different. The physical differences are rather obvious and most of these can be seen and easily measured. Weight, shape, size and anatomy are not political opinions but rather tangible and easily measured. The physical differences between men and women provide functional advantages and have survival value. Men usually have greater upper body strength, build muscle easily, have thicker skin, bruise less easily and have a lower threshold of awareness of injuries to their extremities. Men are essentially built for physical confrontation and the use of force. Their joints are well suited for throwing objects. A man’s skull is almost always thicker and stronger than a women’s. The stereotype that men are more "thick-headed" than women is not far fetched. A man’s "thick headedness", and other anatomical differences have been associated with a uniquely male attraction to high speed activities and reckless behavior that usually involve collisions with other males or  automobiles. Men invented the game "chicken", not women. Men, and a number of other male species of animal seem to charge and crash into each other a great deal in their spare time.
Women on the other hand have four times as many brain cells (neurons) connecting the right and left side of their brain. This latter finding provides physical evidence that supports the observation that men rely easily and more heavily on their left brain to solve one problem one step at a time. Women have more efficient access to both sides of their brain and therefore greater use of their right brain. Women can focus on more than one problem at one time and frequently prefer to solve problems through multiple activities at a time. Nearly every parent has observed how young girls find the conversations of young boys "boring". Young boys express confusion and would rather play sports than participate actively in a conversation between 5 girls who are discussing as many as three subjects at once!
The psychological differences between man and women are less obvious. They can be difficult to describe. Yet these differences can profoundly influence how we form and maintain relationships that can  range from work and friendships to marriage and parenting.
Recognizing, understanding, discussing as well as acting skillfully in light of the differences between men and women can be difficult. Our failure to recognize and appreciate these differences can become a life long source of disappointment, frustration, tension and eventually our downfall in a relationship. Not only can these differences destroy a promising relationship, but most people will grudgingly accept or learn to live with the consequences. Eventually they find some compromise or way to cope. Few people ever work past these difficulties. People tend to accept what they don’t understand when they feel powerless to change it.
Relationships between men and women are not impossible or necessarily difficult. Problems simply arise when we expect or assume the opposite sex should think, feel or act the way we do. It’s not that men and women live in completely different realities. Rather, our lack of knowledge and mutual experience gives rise to our difficulties.
Despite great strides in this country toward equality, modern society hasn’t made relationships between men and women any easier. Today’s society has taught us and has imposed on us the expectation that men and women should live together continuously, in communion, and in harmony. These expectations are not only unrealistic but ultimately they leave people feeling unloved, inadequate, cynical, apathetic or ashamed.

The challenge facing men and women is to become aware of their identities, to accept their differences, and to live their lives fully and as skillfully as possible. To do this we must first understand in what ways we are different. We must avoid trying to change others to suit our needs. The following illustrates some important differences between men and women. These differences are not absolute. They describe how men and women are in most situations most of the time.
Problems
Men and women approach problems with similar goals but with different considerations. While men and women can solve problems equally well, their approach and their process are often quit different. For most women, sharing and discussing a problem presents an opportunity to explore, deepen or strengthen the relationship with the person they are talking with. Woman are usually more concerned about how problems are solved than merely solving the problem itself. For women, solving a problem can profoundly impact whether they feel closer and less alone or whether they feel distant and less connected. The process of solving a problem can strengthen or weaken a relationship. Most men are less concerned and do not feel the same as women when solving a problem.
Men approach problems in a very different manner than women. For most men, solving a problem presents an opportunity to demonstrate their competence, their strength of resolve, and their commitment to a relationship. How the problem is solved is not nearly as important as solving it effectively and in the best possible manner. Men have a tendency to dominate and to assume authority in a problem solving process. They set aside their feelings provided the dominance hierarchy was agreed upon in advance and respected. They are often distracted and do not attend well to the quality of the relationship while solving problems.
Some of the more important differences can be illustrated by observing groups of young teenage boys and groups of young teenage girls when they attempt to find their way out of a maze. A group of boys generally establish a hierarchy or chain of command with a leader who emerges on his own or through demonstrations of ability and power. Boys explore the maze using scouts while remaining in distant proximity to each other. Groups of girls tend to explore the maze together as a group without establishing a clear or dominant leader. Relationships tends to be co-equal. Girls tend to elicit discussion and employ "collective intelligence" to the task of discovering a way out. Girls tend to work their way through the maze as a group. Boys tend to search and explore using structured links and a chain of command.
Thinking
While men and women can reach similar conclusions and make similar decisions, the process they use can be quit different and in some cases can lead to entirely different outcomes. In general, men and women consider and process information differently.
Women tend to be intuitive global thinkers. They consider multiple sources of information within a process that can be described as simultaneous, global in perspective and will view elements in the task in terms of their interconnectedness. Women come to understand and consider problems all at once. They take a broad or "collective" perspective, and they view elements in a task as interconnected and interdependent. Women are prone to become overwhelmed with complexities that "exist", or may exist, and may have difficulty separating their personal experience from problems.
Men tend to focus on one problem at a time or a limited number of problems at a time. They have an enhanced ability to separate themselves from problems and minimize the complexity that may exist. Men come to understand and consider problems one piece at a time. They take a linear or sequential perspective, and view elements in a task as less interconnected and more independent. Men are prone to minimize and fail to appreciate subtleties that can be crucial to successful solutions. A male may work through a problem repeatedly, talking about the same thing over and over, rather than trying to address the the problem all at once. 
While there are differences in the ways that men and women think, it must be emphasized that they can and do solve problems in a similar manner. There are no absolutes, only tendencies.
Memory
Women have an enhanced ability to recall memories that have strong emotional components. They can also recall events or experiences that have similar emotions in common. Women are very adept at recalling information, events or experiences in which there is a common emotional theme. Men tend to recall events using strategies that rely on reconstructing the experience in terms of elements, tasks or activities that took place. Profound experiences that are associated with competition or physical activities are more easily recalled. There appears to be a structural and chemical basis for observed memory differences. For instance, the hippocampus, the area in the brain primarily responsible for memory, reacts differently to testosterone in men and it reacts differently to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in women. Women tend to remember or be reminded of different "emotional memories" and content to some extent as part of their menstrual cycle.
Sensitivity
There is evidence to suggest that a great deal of the sensitivity that exists within men and women has a physiological basis. It has been observed that is many cases, women have an enhanced physical alarm response to danger or threat. Their autonomic and sympathetic systems have a lower threshold of arousal and greater reactivity than men. In both men and women, higher levels of testosterone directly affect the aggressive response and behavior centers of the brain. Increasing estrogen and progesterone in men has a "feminizing" effect. Sexually aggressive males become less focused on sexual aggressive behavior and content when they are given female hormones. On the other hand, changing estrogen and progesterone levels in women during menstrual cycles can produce a "flood" of memories as well as strong emotions. Increasing or high levels of testosterone can produce an emotional insensitivity, empathic block and increased indifference to the distress others.
At the heart of sensitivity is our capacity to form, appreciate and maintain relationships that are rewarding. Even here there are important differences. For men, what demonstrates a solid relationship is quite different from that of most women. Men feel closer and validated through shared activities. Such activities include sports, competition, outdoor activities or sexual activities that are decidedly active and physical. While both men and women can appreciate and engage in these activities they often have preferential differences. Women, on the other hand, feel closer and validated through communication, dialogue and intimate sharing of experience, emotional content and personal perspectives. Many men tend to find such sharing and involvement uncomfortable, if not, overwhelming.
The Task Of Relationship Facing Men and Women
The task that faces men and women is to learn to accept their differences, avoid taking their differences as personal attempts to frustrate each other, and to compromise whenever possible. The idea that one gender can think and feel like the other if they truly loved each is rather absurd. Sure, a man or women could act in consideration of the other’s needs, but this would not necessarily be rewarding and honest. Holding the benefit of another above our own is rewarding. But from time to time, and more often for most of us, it is important to be our self and to be accepted, and not to be the source of distress and disappointment in the lives of people we love.
The Role Of Counseling and Therapy
Counseling and therapy can help a couple understand and appreciate each other, and even benefit from their differences. Understanding these differences intellectually is not enough.  A counselor or therapist can help point out these differences, as they surface, and guide a couple to a greater level of relationship. Understanding that differences are not intentional and that misunderstandings are merely the result of expectations that are not realistic can make a huge difference in a relationship. The differences that can be sensed between a man and women can deepen their relationship. More importantly, when men seek to understand and appreciate that which is feminine, they come to a deeper understanding of their self. And when a women seeks to understand that which is masculine in men, they come to appreciate and understand more about their own masculinity. 


copyright 1999-2000 Michael G. Conner

Problems Men Have With Women

Money, poor communication, children, infidelity, control and sexual incompatibility are the top issues that cause men the most conflict and turmoil in their intimate relationships with women.
The men around the world who read this column, and who have written in have talked about their relationships with women. This is what men say they want from women:

• Men want women to nurture and pamper them.
• Most men want their women to have a good self concept, without being superior, critical or judgmental.
• They want a woman who is socially adept and proficient.
• Most men want the woman to be domestic: to take charge of making the house a warm, cozy environment, and for the woman to do most of the household chores. However, many men are willing to share or assist in the household responsibilities, especially if both people work outside the home.
• Men want their women to be great cooks. Cooking is one way men feel especially pampered and taken care of.
• They want the woman to have some of her own independent interests, so that she is not exclusively dependent on him for meeting her needs and desires.
• If the man wants children, he will look for a woman to be a good and caring mother. Most men still want the woman to be the primary child caretaker.
• Men sometimes have trouble with knowing how to respond to women's emotions, and especially women's emotional swings. Moody women often feel unstable and unsafe to men.
• Men don't like women who act bitchy or uppity.
• Men want their women to be physically attractive, to present a good appearance and to take pride in her appearance.
• They want a sexually active, romantic, sensuous woman, who enjoys sex and can light up like a Christmas tree. Sexually passive women are a turnoff.
• Men want women to be playful, lustful, uninhibited and seductively aggressive.
• They want a woman to be a safe haven. They do not want to be in competition with or have to prove themselves to her, except when in courtship. Men want to be able to be themselves around a woman, and not feel negatively judged.
• Men love feeling attractive and desirable. They like it when you notice and appreciate their masculinity and what is attractive about them.
• They want a faithful woman.
• They want a woman to be a good listener and good communicator, where she is easy and non-threatening to talk with.
• Men want women who are moderately dependent, but not clingy.
• They want good will, the benefit of the doubt and absence of malice.
• They want you to ask if you need or want something from them. Don't assume they're supposed to know what you want or need. Be willing to gently teach and guide them in how to be the best they can be around you.
• They want to feel valued, honored and respected. Men want to feel they are more important to you than anyone or anything else in your life.
• Men want women to be honest and to act with integrity. They want to be able to trust and believe what you tell them.
• Men want commitment.
• Men want women to be good at the things men aren't good at.

Men, am I leaving anything out?

What men and women hate about each other

Men and women still have a string of complaints about each other till today, a new survey has revealed.
The survey was conducted on 2,000 people by laundry firm Dr Beckmann.
"Our research shows the veneer of metrosexuality and 'new man' is wearing very thin and that men are as annoying as ever," the Daily Express quoted Susan Fermor, a spokesman for the firm, as saying.

"Women are no angels either. We may be in the 21st century but we still annoy the opposite sex in exactly the same way we have been doing for millennia," she said.
The top most habit that men find annoying is women saying "I'm fine" when they're clearly not.
More than 40 per cent of the men pinpointed this trait as the one that most drives them up the wall.
"Women find it difficult to be straight about their feelings, leading to this type of passive aggressive behaviour," psychologist Corinne Sweet said.
"It's because they're worried about what will happen if they actually say what's wrong or that they'll be accused of constantly nagging. Women also want their other halves to be mind readers. They think, 'If he really knew me, he'd know X and Y.' This leads to hurt and disappointment because you think your spouse doesn't understand you."
"Women should learn to be more direct," she said.
Another reason is that women talk too much.
In the 80's, the book 'Man Made Language' by Dale Spender used scientific research to dispel the myth that women talk more than men.
"It's just that men think women talk more. That's because there is a mismatch in what the sexes talk about," Sweet said.
According to Sweet, men want to talk about particular subjects like football and work while women want to talk about relationships and emotions.
"It's the minutiae of all that which men find excruciating. They're not interested. They're more goal-orientated.
"I'd suggest women talk to their friends at length and fulfil their needs that way then just give men the briefer version," she said.
The third most annoying habit of women is that they constantly ask what men are thinking.
"This is partly a low self-esteem issue," Sweet said.
"As a counselor and therapist I find so many women still measure themselves by what their other half thinks of them and so they try to prise from them their innermost thoughts. It also comes back to the different way men and women communicate.
"Men aren't as emotionally articulate. They may feel they've given you plenty of information and you might feel you've only scratched the surface. I'd suggest women should stop worrying so much about what men think," she said.

Another reason is that women win arguments by crying, which according to Sweet, have two sides to this.
"If you're hurt and need comfort then crying is perfectly legitimate.
"However some women do cry manipulatively and turn on the water works every time they can't get their way. To those women I'd say their behaviour is rather childlike and it's better to find another way of settling the argument.
"A lot of men are emotionally bottled up and feel threatened by shows of emotion. They could probably do with a cry themselves," she added.
The last among the top five list is that women never say "sorry" even when they are wrong.
"It's difficult for women to say sorry because women tend to think they're the centre of the universe and men need to shape up.
"It's partly because women are still the centre of the home - they're the hub - and if they're a working mum they're trying to do everything. They tend to feel that as a result they have this divine right to be right," Sweet said.
As men could get annoyed by women's habit, women too are offended by men's behaviour.
The top most habit that women find annoying in men is that they don't listen properly.
More than a third of women claimed that this was their partner's worst habit, but it's not totally their fault.
"It's partly to do with how the different sexes' brains work," Sweet said.
"Women can multi-task whereas men can only do one thing at a time.
"Women tell men things but they're not really listening because they're preoccupied - they're either doing something else or thinking about something else and they can't listen as well. For women it's infuriating.
"I'd say women should try to get their other halves to put down their newspaper or iPhone and give them their full attention just for 10 minutes. Men have this horror that a conversation is going to go on and on. They like a time limit," she said.
Second in the list is that men don't put the toilet seat down.
Thirdly, men leave toe-nail clippings and beard shavings where ever they fall.
"This often goes back to what men's mothers let them get away with when they were younger," Sweet said.
"What you have to do is not get into the mother role because that's the kiss of death in a relationship. Talk to them adult to adult and explain why you hate it," she said.
Another reason is that men have friends that their other half don't like.
Sweet believes that if women don't like their husband's or their boyfriend's friends, then it's too bad.
The one that rounds up the list of annoying habit of men's is that they hog the TV remote control.
"Men think it's their prerogative to have the TV remote because they like control but women should have as much control as men.