Differences between women and men.

[GrandizerII]

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The "psychological differences" are mostly nurture over nature. Some men and women might naturally buck the normal trends, but most people get conditioned into them.
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I'm swayed the other way (my opinion, I mean, not my sexuality)... genes trump memes.  There are plenty of examples of middle-aged men with children who get divorced and come out as gay.  And the John/Joan case mentioned in the video below, 33:00.

It's often more that neither trumps the other. Sometimes the interaction of both is what's needed.

[Mermaid]

Environmental disparity from birth.

[Excited Penguin]

Environmental disparity from birth.

Environmental seems like too strong of a word. I think you mean social?

We all share the same environment, after all.

[DLJ]

Environmental disparity from birth.

Environmental seems like too strong of a word. I think you mean social?

We all share the same environment, after all.

Except we don't.

Environment is the right word but in English it has too broad an interpretation.

The German Umwelt hits the spot for ethological purposes.

[Edwardo Piet]

Biggest different tends to be that women and men tend to be raised differently to each other by their parents, and treated differently by others too. However wrongly. Gender stereotyping from a young age can have lasting effects on the personalities of both sexes. Shit like "boys don't cry" and "girls should grow up to be housewives".

[Excited Penguin]

Environmental seems like too strong of a word. I think you mean social?

We all share the same environment, after all.

Except we don't.  

Environment is the right word but in English it has too broad an interpretation.

The German Umwelt hits the spot for ethological purposes.

No, I still think social is better. I can't think of any environmental disparities between the sexes, can you?

I'm talking strictly about humans here, and I think the question in the OP was directed at that as well. We're not talking about genders at a more general animal level.

[DLJ]

Except we don't.  

Environment is the right word but in English it has too broad an interpretation.

The German Umwelt hits the spot for ethological purposes.

No, I still think social is better. I can't think of any environmental disparities between the sexes, can you?

I'm talking strictly about humans here, and I think the question in the OP was directed at that as well. We're not talking about genders at a more general animal level.

Restrooms.

[Excited Penguin]

No, I still think social is better. I can't think of any environmental disparities between the sexes, can you?

I'm talking strictly about humans here, and I think the question in the OP was directed at that as well. We're not talking about genders at a more general animal level.

Restrooms.

That's social, not environmental. It can be environmental in a larger sense, but when talking about our society social is the best word to use, IMO. It pins down what you talk about so that there's no place for confusion.

[Ben Davis]

This all depends on how you define 'differences'. Genetically? Epigenetically? Neurologically?

In terms of basic genetics, the Y chromosone results in 10 protein-coding genes that are unique to human males. However those 10 genes aren't responsible for all of the differences we can observe. Epigenetically, there are ~150 unique-to-men, non-protein-coding genes that are copied in to RNA that account for some more of the differences. But as we observe developing and developed brains, there are many differences that can't possibly be described by either of those mechanisms and are clearly developed from learned behaviour.

It's all very complicated really so I prefer a meta-assessment. In the context of a modern westernised civilisation, statistically, the key differences are trivial. How many men really rely on enhanced muscular development for their survival or reproductive success? How many women rely on enhanced fat storage for theirs? And the rest of the differences (e.g. communication, multi-tasking, spacial awareness) are subject to such broad statistical variation as to become insignificant and consequently useless when predicting individual results.

We're all just human, really. I say we treat everyone equally, give everyone equal opportunity and let individuals be themselves. Any differences are just icing on the cake.

[Excited Penguin]

This all depends on how you define 'differences'. Genetically? Epigenetically? Neurologically?

In terms of basic genetics, the Y chromosone results in 10 protein-coding genes that are unique to human males. However those 10 genes aren't responsible for all of the differences we can observe. Epigenetically, there are ~150 unique-to-men, non-protein-coding genes that are copied in to RNA that account for some more of the differences. But as we observe developing and developed brains, there are many differences that can't possibly be described by either of those mechanisms and are clearly developed from learned behaviour.

It's all very complicated really so I prefer a meta-assessment. In the context of a modern westernised civilisation, statistically, the key differences are trivial. How many men really rely on enhanced muscular development for their survival or reproductive success? How many women rely on enhanced fat storage for theirs? And the rest of the differences (e.g. communication, multi-tasking, spacial awareness) are subject to such broad statistical variation as to become insignificant and consequently useless when predicting individual results.

We're all just human, really. I say we treat everyone equally, give everyone equal opportunity and let individuals be themselves. Any differences are just icing on the cake.

That is a wonderful fucking post. I don't know if its me in a funny mood, or your post, but kudos, sir.