How does Gender and Its Tendencies Influence Family Lives

 Though there might not be limitations to what men and women, or in other words the male and female genders, are able to accomplish, it is undeniable that both have their own sets of strengths and tendencies. Some of the most common patterns of behavior may be influenced by nurture, while others are by nature. As a result, each ends up with a set of skills that aid in their daily capabilities and roles within a family unit.

Usual male tendencies may include orientation toward three-dimensional objects, gross movements and activities, compartmental thinking, competitiveness, and aggression. The documentary “Boys & Girls Are Different: Men, Women & The Sex Difference”, directed by George Paul attempts to showcase whether the distinction between men and women is in fact an innate habit or a socially constructed standard. The presentation depicted evidence of baby boys having a greater tendency for physical movement than baby girls did. However, the baby boys did not attempt to copy mouth movements from the adults nearly as much as the girls did. Between those two main characteristics and a few others, it is not so surprising to see why grown-up boys mostly dominate the sporting world and girls have a more refined aptitude to notice small details.

Those tendencies and skills within men have aided them throughout history in their roles in their families. Most cultures around the world have demonstrated men being responsible for mainly protecting and providing for their families through time, as well as presiding over it. There are many benefits for families because of these qualities and differences. No individual can completely fulfill all the necessary functions a healthy family needs. Raising children to reach their true potential is a hard task, which can be made easier if a man and a woman work together. Thus, society benefits from male and female gender differences, whether it is by nature or nurture.

Some familiar female tendencies are their orientation to form relationships with other people, noticing small details, gentleness, connected thinking, and often cooperation. The varying development of the brain between the female and male gender offers an answer to why there are in fact differences between them. The short video “The Science Around Male Brains vs. Female Brains” adds to what the documentary by George Paul revealed and “A Tale of Two Brains: Men's Brain Women's Brain” by Mark Gungor clarifies it further. Gungor explained the female brain to be more like a “big ball of wire”, so everything is connected to another line, while the male one separates things into “boxes”, which do not connect with other things. Consequently, women can find how things can relate to and impact other things.

How do those tendencies aid in their roles in families? Women have a greater aptitude to have a wider perspective on things, while men are more myopic and may struggle to see the bigger picture. Not only that, many instances have shown mothers to have a natural tendency to raise children and guide them in challenging times. The way their brains work might explain why they are able to do these things more naturally than men.

In conclusion, men and women are indeed distinct beings and each has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. However, life is not a competition between the two sexes, so accepting these differences and using them for the benefit of our global society will further enhance it. Thus, it is very important to be aware of the existing differences between the two genders, as John Stuart Mill once said “He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that, [...] and has no ground for preferring either option”.