It is, of course, the extremes of the curve which drives the perception of sexual difference
I disagree with that. If you have a plot of 'body strength' against 'frequency' and draw curves for 'men' and 'women' there will be overlap at the edges, where 'abnormal' people feature, but the basic curves won't overlap much. I would say the gender differences are very real and exist because the summits of the two curves are separated by some distance. The most obvious difference is reproduction equipment, and most of our historical gender differences seem traceable back to that. But simple daily observation tells me that most men are starting from a position of greater body strength than most women. It probably isn't apparent to people who work in offices but out in my daily life it is a hugely significant and dominant factor. Men are stronger - it's just a fact.
And let's face it, gender inequality didn't come about because of some huge conspiracy of men that women were too stupid to prevent, it came about because men are stronger and not rendered relatively immobile by pregnancy and young children. Those differences still exist and are still relevant in today's society.
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Date: 2008-05-28 07:18 am (UTC)I disagree with that. If you have a plot of 'body strength' against 'frequency' and draw curves for 'men' and 'women' there will be overlap at the edges, where 'abnormal' people feature, but the basic curves won't overlap much. I would say the gender differences are very real and exist because the summits of the two curves are separated by some distance. The most obvious difference is reproduction equipment, and most of our historical gender differences seem traceable back to that. But simple daily observation tells me that most men are starting from a position of greater body strength than most women. It probably isn't apparent to people who work in offices but out in my daily life it is a hugely significant and dominant factor. Men are stronger - it's just a fact.
And let's face it, gender inequality didn't come about because of some huge conspiracy of men that women were too stupid to prevent, it came about because men are stronger and not rendered relatively immobile by pregnancy and young children. Those differences still exist and are still relevant in today's society.