History of Feminism
Related: About this forum5 Gender Stereotypes That Used to Be the Exact Opposite.
(Yes, it's from Cracked.com; still interesting.)
http://www.cracked.com/article_19780_5-gender-stereotypes-that-used-to-be-exact-opposite.html?wa_user1=3&wa_user2=Science&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=popular
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)For those who don't want to click, here's the list:
1. Men and women have specific gender roles.
2. Gay men are effeminate, lesbians are tomboyish.
3. PMS makes women irrational.
4. Men don't cry.
5. Pink for girls, blue for boys.
And an additional tidbit that isn't in the article, "girl" used to refer to all children. Male children were called "knave girls" and female children called "gay girls." "Boy" was a term reserved for servants and slaves.
Prophet 451
(9,796 posts)Male and female brains are physically different, even from birth. What we don't yet know is why or what that means.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)The move from an agrarian to industrial society changed a lot, especially the home/family dynamic.
There's also been some research into what the difference between male and female brains actually means and how it manifests. So far, it looks like those differences don't amount to much and can be overcome or amplified depending on how a child is raised--nurture seems to play a greater role than nature when it comes to the differences between male and female cognitive development.
Prophet 451
(9,796 posts)I suspect I've been reading much the same research as you have. What interests me is what those inherent differences must mean. They have to affect something, otherwise there's no evolutionary reason for them but as you say, the differences can be "canceled out" during the childrearing process. So why are they there in the first place? Did they once play a greater role than they now do? And if so, what? Needs more research, I think.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)That seems to be a plausible mechanism for what causes the structural differences and it's possible that the ability for those differences to be undone by nurture is the result of evolutionary pressures--individuals with exaggerated cognitive differences may not have fared as well.
Of course that's speculation, but not being a scientist in the field, that's the most I can do.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)the evolutional absolute that created women as second class for so long, inept, incapable, dependent, totally disappear when we gained a little freedom. how strong is this supposed evolutionary hold on us?
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)if you can, let me know. i have read studies that for example, with baby girls we are much more apt to hold, cuddle and stroke/caress. huge part of my mothering with my boys when they were babies. didnt know i was not suppose to do as much. they were BABIES after all, and there is nothing more wonderful than holding, cuddling, caressing a baby. and kissin on them. all the time. but, something to unconscious and significant alone will create different behaviors.
you are going to have to get something for me to read about difference, before i buy it.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)reading with me and having a discussion about it. i love smart kids, makes life fun.
Nikia
(11,411 posts)He has picked out a pink bucket at a children's event and declared that pink was his favorite color after picking out a pink cupcake at a birthday party. I have seen an article that says that most toddler boys like pink until they are told they aren't supposed to. He isn't in daycare, preschool, or any regular kid's activity.
He might have some idea of the color stereotypes though because before his last haircut, he asked if he could wear my "pink hair thingy" . My husband said that boys don't usually wear pink hair thingys. He asked if he could wear a blue one.
It is a shame that whole colors are socially off limits to young boys and girls who have no inherent reason to like or dislike colors on a gender basis.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)also bought package of sleepers. blue, yellow and pink. yellow washed baby out, blue... meh, but my 3 month old sure looked good in that pink. lol. isnt that amazing assigning a color. wow. lol. (this is a fun article. typing response as i am reading.
crying use to be a sign of manliness.... bah hahaha. i have my boys here while i read this telling them. male tears were actually celebrated as a sign of honesty, integrity and strength.
having boys, ya, i know, tears happen.
pms... having to deal with mess and pain, ya a bad mood. but never went into the moody thing, or with menopause. but, found something, somewhere to create women irrational.
i knew that on athletic girls....
and when talking the history of motherhood, and how moms in the past didnt "stay home" raising kids.... this would be what i say.... not like we can bring the babies to work.
that was a fun article blueiris. thanks. i hope more read it. when i was talking to boys about this, my oldest was telling me that at a period, science became so commercialized in the gilded age it was ridiculously wrong. he had fun with this. he does lots of reading.