[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

What parts of gender roles do you think are down to biology/neurology?

Basically all of it? I'm not gonna talk about clothes and makeup because fashions change and have changed over time, while most aspects of gender roles have remained solid.

Males and females are biologically and neurologically different, and these differences are what inform the differences in the roles males and females generally take in society.

Males have about 7% more grey matter in their brains, and in the cerebellum men have more connections between hemispheres, which means an increased ability to translate perception, and for motorskill and ability. Along with the on average higher bone density and muscle mass, this makes males better suited for physical work, and which is why back in our primitive days, men were the hunters.

Meanwhile, females have about 10% more white matter in their brains, and more connections between frontal lobes, which translates to greater empathy, social skills, and nurturing behaviours. This is why women are better suited for staying at home and raising the kids, while men go out and earn the daily bread.

And then there's hormones to consider. Higher testosterone in males drives behaviours such as competitiveness, higher sex drive, more aggression, and providing resources to attract potential mates. Females have more estrogen, which fuels the instincts to nurture and emphasize. Which could explain why courses and careers geared around helping others (nursing, child care, etc.) We even could touch briefly on the makeup thing, as being attractive helps females attract a mate who can provide children and resources.

At the end of the day, we are animals, and we are the products of biology.