Page 342 - Sociology and You

312 Unit 3 Social Inequality
is aimed at answering these questions scientifically. Definitions of masculinity and femininity are now based on research rather than just on tradition and “common knowledge.”
Biology, Culture, and Behavior
As noted earlier, there are obvious biological differences between males and females. Biological differences between the sexes include distinctive muscle-to-bone ratios and how fat is stored. The differences in reproductive organs, however, are much more important, because they result in certain facts of life. Only men can impregnate; only women are able to produce eggs, give birth, and nurse infants. Throughout life reproductive hormones influence development in both males and females.
Are male and female brains different? Recent research indicates that the brains of men and women are slightly different in structure (Gur et al., 1995). For example, men show more activity in a region of the brain thought to be tied to adaptive evolutionary responses such as fighting. Women have
more activity in a newer, more highly developed re- gion of the brain thought to be linked to emotional expression. The female brain is less specialized than the male brain. Women tend to use both sides of the brain simultaneously when performing a task. Whereas men tend to process verbal tasks on the left side of the brain, women are more likely to use both sides. Women tend to use both ears when listening and men tend to use the right ear.
Do such biological differences lead to differ- ences in social behavior? This is precisely the
Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt does not fit the popular stereotype of womanly behavior. Neither does Saturday Night Live’s “Pat” character. In fact, no one is quite sure what gender SNL Pat is, anyway.