One thing I've always wondered about is how much culture influence the way we are. How much of our reactions to life are taught to us, and how much is just the way we inherently are? My favorite example, and one I like to bring up to T-rav every now and then, is the stereotypical American male. Everyone knows that a real man doesn't cry. He doesn't exhibit a whole lot of any type of emotion, except, perhaps, anger or maybe happiness. A real man is strong, powerful, and suppresses his feelings. And he most definitely doesn't cry. On the other hand, a real woman is in touch with her emotions, maybe even too much so.
I firmly believe that this is mostly culturally taught. From infancy, I think American boys are told not to cry, to be tough, to take care of their sister, etc. And girls are taught to rely on men, gush forth their feelings, and cry at the drop of a hat. This is not to completely discount the inherent differences between men and women. But in my opinion, the biggest differences come from how we are raised, not our genes. For example, Latin men are required to be both macho, but also passionate, and, if the moment demands it, very emotional. Does that mean that their genes make them more emotional than American men, or are they raised that way? I would venture to say they've been raised that way.
What do you think?
6 comments:
I also think that the idea of the stereotypical male is culturally taught, although I don't have enough experience with many cultures to back up my statement.
What about in your ESL classes? Do your male students act differently than Americans?
you may find this article interesting (or not)...
http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i18/18b00601.htm
Just my 2 cents, but while I think much of our behavior is learned from social interactions, I'm pretty certain that base feelings & actions - higher male aggression, higher female sensitivity - come about because of the difference in the sexes at birth. Just watching 1 & 2 year olds provides evidence of the early differences...
I think like most things it is a combination of nature and nurture. There is definately some socialization going on, but there are things to which men do not react, about which women can get emotional. There is no supression of feelings, simply no emotional reaction.
This can be due to differences within the brain itself. Women had a much denser set of connective tissue between the two halves of their brain than men, which is assumed to improve multitasking, but perhaps also multistressing. There are also hormonal difference that play a definate role.
Anyway, I think it is impacted by both socialation and genetics.
Fautie says
Certainly some of what we are is based on gender, levels of hormones and even genetics. Much is influenced by culture as well. I think it is really a mixed bag. Some men are more touchy feely men and some woman are more manly. I am not sure that is always culture because even in a culture that says guys should not cry and girls should be helpless damsels there will be variants.
You may be interested in the book, The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine, MD. She specializes in neurobiology and has some fascinating knowledge and theories. I believe she will be releasing The Male Brain sometime this year.
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