Dear Proxy,

You quoted what I cited to you in your other
thread on Elena Kagan the next Supreme Court
Justice, however you didn't explain in what
context the quotes were given and to what
they referred. It was in response to your
asserting that this particular female Supreme
Court Justice nominee would enforce her own views onto
government. Whereas Christopher Larimer,
A political Science Professor at the University of
Northern Iowa who has studied closely the
effect of gender on decision-making in groups
disagreed with your opinion about women enforcing
their views in group think situations:

"Greater gender diversity in any group will likely
result in decisions that are more democratic.."
Because "women tend to take all members' opinions
into consideration in order to seek a universal
consensus..." and "Women are more adept to make
decisions that reflect group preferences, rather
than individual preferences."

As any thinking person knows there are vast
individual differences between men and women and
the typical personality patterns of adult men and
women are clearly dissimilar in many ways, but
whether these patterns are inborn or learned
in the case of adults, this question cannot be
answered, since it is impossible to untangle
the effects of biological and social influences
on personality.

Our society today is highly individualistic
and highly open to change and experimentation
and true liberation from the restrictions of
gender would mean that all possible options
would be open and equally acceptable to both
sexes. And as I've written in the past it would
be great if a person's individual human qualities,
rather than his or biological sex, would be the
primary measure of that person's worth and
achievement.

cont'd ...

In answer to your question,
"Men are better than women at what?"

I'd like to introduce a bit of humour
into this thread. I found this little
ditty by "Denim Sue," on the web:

"I won't grab your hooters,
I won't pinch your butt
my belt buckle's not hidden
beneath my beer gut.

I won't go around readjusting my crotch
Or yell like Tarzan
when I notch up a notch.

I don't belch in public,
I don't scratch my behind,
I'm a woman you see,
I'm just not that kind!"

What we are good at or not so good at is not determined by our genders for the most part.

Yes, men are generally faster runners, higher jumpers and more physically able than women. Some women may be fitter than some men but even in physcial testing (like Beep tests) there are different benchmarks for assessing fitness. We are different. Which is why in sport genders are usually seperated or at most mixed. One does not normally see all-male teams playing all-female teams in tennis, swimming or basketball. Men have louder voices.

There is a perception that women are more conciliatory or consultative in style, but bullies can be either. I have had some amazing male and female bosses who respect and value the worth of all their employees; and knew how to get the best from their staff. I don't believe as a whole women make better managers just because they are women. It will always come down to individual ethos and confidence and talent.

Who knows to what extent behaviours are learned or innate. Men can be more aggressive in certain circumstances but this can vary between group expectations eg. bikie gangs vs corporate executives - perhaps a different sort of ruthlessness is fostered. Is male aggression a throwback to the days where men were hunters and protectors? Could female aggression be biological and relate to the desire to protect their young.

Foxy mentioned it too, it harks back to the old question of nature vs nuture.

Dear Pelly,

Here's a few more quotes:

1) The only difference between men
and boys if the cost of their toys.

2) A gentlemen is a patient wolf.

3) Why do men like intelligent women?
Because opposites attract?

4) Men can read maps better than women.
Because only a male mind could conceive
of one inch equalling a hundred miles.

5) It is the men who are discriminated against.
They can't have children.
And no one's likely to do anything about that.

6) Why can't men stop wearing neckties?
How intelligent is it to start the day by
tying a little noose around your neck?

7) Men only call themselves "feminists"
in the hope of getting a more intelligent root.

8) Boys will be boys and so will a lot
of middle-aged men.

9) Men think "monogamy" is something you make
dining room tables out of.

10) Many a man thinks himself extremely sensitive
simply because he's easily put out.

11) He took his misfortune like a man -
he blamed it on his wife.

12) Conceit is God's gift to little men.

13) Egotism - usually just a case of
mistaken nonentity.

14) I dress for women, and
undress for men.

15) I'm not a snob. Ask anybody.
Well, anybody that matters.

Everything, except child birth of course.

Still, one of the things I love about equestrian sport is that it is one of very few, where we compete equally, & are equally competitive, at the very top level.

I think men in general are more visual that women , allowing for the usual exceptions in any group.

I notice it both in my husband and my father. This is probably an inherent evolutionary ability because they were hunters and warriors.

I think they still fill the role of protector to a great extent, I know I always feel a lot safer when my husband is with me when we go riding on lonely river bikeways. I feel safer in general when he is around the house etc.

If a man sees a woman with another male they are a lot less likely to attack in most situations. They have no fear of females but they do feel fear of another male because they know a male has their own strength and capabilities when it comes to fighting and defending.

Yes women can do well in the army in wars that are fought more at a distance with powerful long range weapons. In the old battles like in the movie Braveheart, I don’t think they would have had too many victories if they had to fight up close with swords against an all male army. (armed to armed combat)
Although I am grateful for the job the women do in Iraq I still feel safer knowing our army is predominantly male than I would if our army was 100% female.

My husband says females need protection and despite the fact that the women's libbers will probably eat me for dinner for saying it, I think he is right in many situations.