What are the Real Differences Between Sexes?

This is a pertinent question in our discussion of male-female relations. An attempt to find an answer to this question gives rise to many other questions such as the following: Are there any inborn differences between the sexes? Are they really important? Are sex roles completely flexible? Are there some natural and genetically determined qualities which do not permit any change of sex roles?

In order to answer these questions in a satisfactory manner, sociologists have taken the help of other sciences by drawing relevant evidences from them. Sociologists thus have drawn the evi­dences from biology which tells us about the physical and physiological differences between males and females; psychology which provides us information about the personality differences between the sexes; and anthropology, which is of great help in knowing the variations in sex roles that exist among the many cultures of the world. Let us go into greater details of these three kinds of evidences.

1. Biological Evidence:

From the biological point of view, men and women differ in three respects, that is, a) anatomi­cally, b) genetically, and c) hormonally

a) Anatomical Differences:

These differences are apparent in the physical structure and ap­pearance of the sexes. Anatomical differences found in the reproductive systems of men and women are the most important ones. Men develop testes and women ovaries and these are called primary sex characteristics. Due to the impact of the hormones at puberty they develop secondary sex character­istics such as breasts and body hair in females, deeper voice, facial and body hair in men.

As a result of these anatomical differences, it is women who become pregnant and suckle chil­dren. This is a biological responsibility that places a number of restrictions on the social and economic activities of women. On the contrary, men are free from these restrictions.

Other anatomical differences such as height, weight, amount of body hair, distribution of body fat, and musculature are socially important for they help others to recognise the sex of an individual. These characteristics also reveal that men are physically more powerful than women. This greater strength helps man to dominate women by force. This fact also helps to explain why in society men have political status superior to women.

b) Genetic Differences:

Due to the genetic differences, individuals belonging to two sexes are born. Differences in the sexes are based on differences in the makeup of their sex chromosomes. It is well known that females have two similar chromosomes [x x], while males have two different chromosomes [x y]. Scientists are still busy with their studies to know whether this difference affects the personalities or abilities of the sexes. But this difference is found to be having its biological effects.

The males which lack the second x chromosomes are found to be weaker in some respects. Male infants are more likely than females to be still born or malformed. Over thirty hereditary disorders [such as haemophilia and webbing of the toes] are found only in men. Further, the death rate of men is found to be higher than that of women. Women are regarded as more resistant than men to most diseases and seem to have a greater tolerance for pain and malnutrition.

c) The Hormonal Differences:

A hormone is a chemical substance that is secreted by glands in the body, and it is known that hormones can influence both physical development and certain forms of behaviour. Both men and women have “male” as well as “female” hormones; but the proportion of ‘male hormone’ is greater in men and the proportion of “female hormone” is greater in women.

Whether the hormones completely determine the characteristic male and female behaviour is a ques­tion still debated. Experiments conducted at the level of animals by means of injecting male hormones in females have revealed that hormones to a very great extent influence their behavioural pattern. But, at the level of human beings, culture and socialisation play a vital role in influencing behaviour.

The natural and social scientists are of the opinion today that hormonal differences probably do have some influence on the behaviour of men and women but this influence is a minor one.

2. Psychological Evidence:

The behavioural and personality patterns of adult men and women are clearly different. The question is whether these differences are inborn or learnt? To find out a satisfactory answer to this question psychologists have focused much of their research on infants.

A number of studies of young infants have found sex-linked personality differences early in life. It is observed that even in the cradle, male babies are more active than female babies. On the other hand, female babies smile more readily and are more sensitive to warmth and touch than males.

These are, however, only general tendencies. In actuality, many male babies show traits that are typical of female babies, and vice versa. It remains possible that even these early differences are learned. Chil­dren respond in ways depending upon the manner in which they are handled.

Findings of John Money’s Studies:

John Money and his associates conducted some studies 10 find out the impact on the child and his behaviour if he is raised as a member of the opposite sex. If |g child is biologically a boy but is raised as girl, what happens? If sex roles were determined by biological factors, it should be impossible to socialise a child into the “wrong” sex role.

John Money’s dies have shown that it is possible, to raise a child as a member of the opposite sex. His studies have also pointed out that it is possible to do so before the child attains the age of three and after that it may put up some resistance. John Money concludes that the human species is “psycho sexually neuter at birth” and that sex roles are independent of biological sex.

3. Anthropological Evidences OR Cross Cultural Evidences:

Are sex roles completely determined by inborn differences? If that were to be so, then we would expect the roles of men and women to be much the same in all cultures. On the contrary, if the sex roles vary a great deal from one culture to another, then they must be much more flexible than we have assumed it in the past.

i. The Classic Study Conducted by Margaret Mead

Anthropologists have reported a number of societies whose sex roles are different from our own. Margaret Mead’s study [1935] in this field, relating to three New Guinea tribes is worth mentioning here.

1. The Arapesh Tribe:

In this tribe, Mead found that both men and women conformed to a personality type that we would consider “feminine”. Individuals of both the sexes are gentle, sober, passive and emotionally very warm. Men and women were believed to have identical sex drives and both were responsible for child care.

2. The Mundugumor Tribe:

Tribes of this group are cannibalistic. These are head hunting people and they expected women and men to be violent and aggressive. Both men and women act in ways which we would call predominantly “masculine “. Mundugumor women rarely showed what is town as “maternal instinct” common to women everywhere. These women dreaded pregnancy, disliked nursing their children, and were especially hostile towards their own daughters.

3. The Tchambuli Tribe:

Sex roles in this community differed from the first two tribes. In this tribe, male and female roles are defined in a way that is quite contrary to our modern way. The women were domineering and energetic and wore no ornaments.

They were the major economic providers of the family. They managed and did major tasks of the family. The men, on the other hand, are artistic, gossipy, expressive and looked after children.