Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Take sex differences seriously, says professor
Differences between men and women are natural and not socially constructed, says an American academic, contradicting one of the most powerful ideas shaping contemporary society. Steven E Rhoads, a professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years, draws on an abundance of social science data and biological research which he presents in a new book, Taking Sex Difference Seriously.
For example, he said in a recent lecture, the amount of testosterone babies are exposed to in the womb influences levels of aggression, and one study shows male infants are already more aggressive than females at the age of 16 months. Denial of this basic difference has produced policy like Title IX, a federal law requiring women to be equally represented in college sports. Because women's interest in playing sports is not as high as men's, many schools have had to scale back men's programmes. Men denied organised sport as an "outlet for their aggression" will turn to less appropriate outlets, suggested Rhoads.
He said a wealth of research indicates that women are better nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with their children to pursuing a professional career. Even when mothers are fulfilled in their career there is evidence that the children suffer. One study showed that the more mothers loved their job the less mentally healthy their teenage daughters were. But mental health for teen girls improved as their father's job satisfaction increased.
Rhoads also dealt with the issue of whether "women have to work". He said a single wage earner today, on average, makes 30 percent more in inflation-adjusted dollars than was the case in the 1950s when many mums stayed at home. What has changed, however, is consumption - more cars, bigger homes and so on. Couples who opt to live more simply can still live on a single income, he suggested.
Research showed the drive for more day care was mistaken, he said. "Two career families who put children in subsidised day care apparently produce a near tripling of the odds that these children will be disobedient and aggressive …" It would be better if the government offered tax benefits to couples where one parent stayed home.
Differences between men and women are natural and not socially constructed, says an American academic, contradicting one of the most powerful ideas shaping contemporary society. Steven E Rhoads, a professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years, draws on an abundance of social science data and biological research which he presents in a new book, Taking Sex Difference Seriously.
For example, he said in a recent lecture, the amount of testosterone babies are exposed to in the womb influences levels of aggression, and one study shows male infants are already more aggressive than females at the age of 16 months. Denial of this basic difference has produced policy like Title IX, a federal law requiring women to be equally represented in college sports. Because women's interest in playing sports is not as high as men's, many schools have had to scale back men's programmes. Men denied organised sport as an "outlet for their aggression" will turn to less appropriate outlets, suggested Rhoads.
He said a wealth of research indicates that women are better nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with their children to pursuing a professional career. Even when mothers are fulfilled in their career there is evidence that the children suffer. One study showed that the more mothers loved their job the less mentally healthy their teenage daughters were. But mental health for teen girls improved as their father's job satisfaction increased.
Rhoads also dealt with the issue of whether "women have to work". He said a single wage earner today, on average, makes 30 percent more in inflation-adjusted dollars than was the case in the 1950s when many mums stayed at home. What has changed, however, is consumption - more cars, bigger homes and so on. Couples who opt to live more simply can still live on a single income, he suggested.
Research showed the drive for more day care was mistaken, he said. "Two career families who put children in subsidised day care apparently produce a near tripling of the odds that these children will be disobedient and aggressive …" It would be better if the government offered tax benefits to couples where one parent stayed home.
