How is the belief in gender differences more significant than actual differences?

Answer 1

While few people debate that there are no gender differences, it is clear that biological gender differences are exaggerated by social forces. For example, if someone says men are stronger than women, it is a generalization. On average, men are stronger than women, but there are many women who are stronger than many men. In addition, the expectation for women to be thin and soft, and for me to be muscular, impacts behavior. Women are more likely to do thinning exercises (like aerobics or running), while men are more likely to engage in muscle building (e.g. protein supplements, weight lifting, or even steroid use). A lifetime of different sport and exercise activities leads men to be more muscular and women to be less muscular than they would "naturally" be.

This is a dramatic example of something that happens in any area of behavior that is labeled as masculine or feminine. For example, if women are expected to have empathy, they will be rewarded for showing empathy and punished for not showing empathy (which can be subtle or overt). Likewise, if men are expected to be in control of their emotions, they may be teased or looked down upon for being overly expressive of emotions. This impacts the development of empathy in men and women. Similar social pressures can be seen in many areas, including expression of sexuality, roles in relationships, acceptable occupations, supposed academic strengths, etc.

Answer 2

The belief in gender differences can lead to societal biases and discrimination, impacting individuals' opportunities and experiences. This belief can perpetuate stereotypes and limit individuals' abilities to break free from narrow gender roles, restricting personal and professional growth. In contrast, while there are some physiological differences between genders, the belief in exaggerated or overstated differences can have more profound consequences than the actual variations.