Gender Differences

There are differences between men and women, but most scientific studies show that gender differences in psychological characteristics are small. Men and women do not have radically different brains, personality traits, cognitive skills, or behaviors. There are some differences on average, but men and women are not the black versus white opposites that many people believe. (Even the phrase opposite sex encourages this view.)

There have been numerous media reports about just how different men and women are. The former president of Harvard, Lawrence H. Summers, said that women are not naturally inclined toward science. The media report that adolescent girls have extremely low self-esteem. A best-selling book claims that Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. However, men and women are not from different ...