The question of whether there exists a true difference between male and female is a question of the old times, and it has repeatedly been discussed since the first wave of the feminist's movements in American and other countries in the world. Those who oppose the difference believe that the difference which exists between the genders was created through the perception which is instilled in the young children as they grow up. They believe that male children are made to believe that they are superior based on the kind of role they are trained as they grow up. On the other hand, they believe that female gender is made to believe that they are the minority based on the kind of role they witnessed their mothers performing and the role they are also trained in the society. These individual thus argue that it is the nurture which plays a big part in making the female and male gender different. On the other hand, the supporters of the different claim that there are other factors other than nurture which has created this difference and thus has to be there. They point at factors such as nature to be responsible for this difference. In this article, the author joins those who claim that it is not only the nurture that creates this difference, there are other factors such as nature which is involved thus making male and female differences.
The first fact that proves the different is seen regarding aggression. Aggression is one factor which is the experience of both genders. Aggression is less influenced by the upbringing, through nurture also plays a part in its intensity. In many research, it is revealed that though both male and female gender are at some time aggressive, male exhibit direct aggression such as physical fights, verbal abuses and many others (Lengua & Stormshak, 2000). On the other hand, female gender is not known for this kind of direct aggression, they exhibit indirect aggression, and these include gossiping and much more. This difference cannot be solemnly burdened on the upbringing of the child. There are other factors which may be perpetuating this kind of difference. It may well be argued that male gender is naturally aggressive.
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The next point is the difference in style and themes of the social play between these genders. Across the globe, both male and female genders are known to engage in different kinds of social play. However, there is a clear difference in this play which is beyond upbringing of the children. “Across cultures, girls engage more frequently in cooperative, nonaggressive social play, whereas boys show a higher frequency of play fighting and rough-and-tumble ‘play (about 3–6 times as much as girls)” (Zakriski et al., 2005). As they play, it is easy to notice that the themes of these social play also differs across the genders. Female like more family based, interpersonal play including parenting. On the other hand, boys like more combative, power, aggression and dominance themes in their play. These seem to be dictated by nature other than nurture.
Lastly, the speech is also an issue which creates difference and shows that it is not nurtured which is contributing the gender difference (Korpershoek et al., 2012). Research has also revealed that while talking, girls use more of tentative speech mostly the tag questions in their speech. On the other hand, boys use more of assertive speech.
In summary, even though some individuals claim that nurture has played a large part in determining the gender difference across the globe, this is not the truth. There are other factors also which account for the difference in communication, social play, and aggression which are witnessed in male and female gender.
References
Korpershoek, H., Kuyper, H., & Van der Werf, M. P. C. (2012). The role of personality about gender differences in school subject choices in pre-university education. Sex Roles , 67 (11-12), 630-645.
Lengua, L. J., & Stormshak, E. A. (2000). Gender, gender roles, and personality: Gender differences in the prediction of coping and psychological symptoms. Sex Roles , 43 (11-12), 787-820.
Zakriski, A. L., Wright, J. C., & Underwood, M. K. (2005). Gender similarities and differences in children's social behavior: finding personality in contextualized patterns of adaptation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 88 (5), 844.
