Group differences (Gender) Reflection

Gender Reflection

            Lise Eliot wrote “The Myth of Pink and Blue” is speaking to the general public that have taken information for individuals that have done studies on the male and female brain being polar opposite. As a neuroscientist, Eliot is trying to speak of the genuine truth about male and female brain differences, which is that they are not as different as researchers have lead us to believe.

            The author’s assumptions seem to be based on minimizing the difference with genders. She claims that people are following researchers’ assumptions on gender differences that are incorrect. Data from Neuroscientists shows that male and female brains are not as different as some researchers have suggested. Evidence that was used in the article to prove this point was the thousands of subjects from around the world that neuroscientists had test. Eliot took boys & girls math and reading results from countries: Iceland, Norway, Austria, Korea, Greece, and Thailand. This showed that ethnicity and nationality do make a difference in the math and reading scores of genders.

             Specific passages that support my interpretation of the author’s argument are “…there is more overlap between average males’ and females’ brains than differences between the average brain of each gender” (Eliot 32). Also, she says, “The truth is no mental ability or ability difference is ‘hard-wired’ into the brain” (33). I agree with this theory that Eliot has brought to the attention of her readers because society has, for too long, told boys and girls that they are extremely different because of mental reasons that they are “programmed” this way, which is false.

            Eliot took the right strides in bringing forth her theory, and I could tell that lots of time and energy had been spent on this theory. Eliot echoes my own discourses about gender because I believe that culture has embedded our culture to believe that we are different without any other reason but mental. I’m glad someone sees it the way that I do. I was surprised that “exposure to less tangible influences like parenting styles can alter DNA structure, gene expression, and an organism’s lifelong brain and behavioral function” (33). I did not realize the impact that parenting styles really had. I think this reading linked with chapter 6 in some ways. Yes, it is true that girls are more organized or pay attention easier, but it isn’t fully dependent on their gender. The textbook tries to be gender neutral, in my opinion, but from the article’s perspective, this is nearly impossible.