Nerve Endings Firing Away

Boy, is this a “personal” post or a “political” one, I am commenting on it first.

Maybe has something to do with the way in which the two brains are wired, or simply a perception of politics as a traditionally male field.

hey..u do realise by pointing out women..u just opened the pandora’s box;)

Sankalp – I think that women might be prompted to comment considering that if they don’t, I just might be proven right and you know nobody likes to think that I am right :)

Queer – Frankly you are the exception whom I have seen commenting or posting on political topics…and I guess at my place the pandora’s box is always open.

Anya – Yup. The keyword is “more likely” so not that women don’t like to but they just don’t prefer it, right?

From what i have observed, women aren’t comfortable talking about things they don’t know all the facts about. Even in group discussions, i found women reticent to indulge in ‘maybe’s and ‘couldbe’s. Those women who somehow have the habit of keeping themselves abreast of latest happenings love to discuss politics. And put forward well-etched arguments, but unfortunately, the habit of devouring newspapers for political news is rare.

Sabra – I can understand the reason for not wanting to offend ppl sometimes but everytime? whatever happened to speaking your mind or at least being open about your views?

Passerby – I am not sure if it is the case of not knowing anything about but rather the problem of not wanting to express it..thatz what I am trying to understand…why?

Minds Eye – and men don’t get misunderstood..heck, we get more misunderstood than we like to but politics is not at all personal so the question of offending someone close does not arise..its merely makes the people around you aware of your beliefs and ideologies…do you prefer to keep it under wraps? Why?

Patrx – you take me too seriously! :) I don’t keep my political beliefs under wraps and I’m just as curious as you are about why women shy away from this topic.

I’m not trying to explain why women refrain from politics, but posing another question… how many men discuss their personal feelings with other people/ blog about it?

Is it possible when men meet socially the conversation mostly revolves around general issues – politics, sports, business but women tend to talk about personal stuff? I’m just thinking aloud…

I wonder if it’s worth taking politics serious… Think abt it. Other than some heated agrument, bruised egos and adrelanin pumping verbal assaults, it doesnt really get u anywhere. Considering the choices u have among the peopel u can choose among for the political offices, there isnt anything we do (other than vote) that is going to change anything… so just vote for the lesser devil. That’s the most productive thing u can do in politics.

okay, this is one of those we-all-talk-crap-and-end-it-with-a-probability discussion. So I might as well contribute my opinion as this post is begging for one ;) :

I think its crap to say “men are like this” and “women are like that”. There is no generalization or stereotyping in here. I have seen several men who have vowed to never bother themselves with politics and several women who can not only talk politics but also indulge in it.

All said and done, men and women do have their brains wired differently, as n number of scientific studies have proved. Our brains are essentially like those of our ancestors of a million years ago, and the reason we think differently is because of the differing roles men and women have played in evolutionary history. Men and women are innately drawn to different aspects of the world around them.

And Divya, exceptions do exist, but I think its a pretty accurate generalization to say that there are certain guy things and certain girl things. Talking about personal stuff isn’t a guy thing and getting into heated political debates tends not to be a girl thing !

Personally, I would definitely put in my two bits during a political discusiion, but I really wouldn’t be interested in getting too involved and defending my position or attacking someone else’s. That doesnt mean I don’t care; I feel strongly about using my right to vote and being a part of the political process. But I guess guys just feel the need to prove their point more than girls do…

“people have built empires due to that difference.”
I know I know peopel ahve destroyed several other human beings because of such stereotyping. I refuse to stereotype any human being. I think everybody has characteristics that cant be explicitly classified. If you wish, you can categorise them into two extremes.

Most humans play their parts to imitiate the “perfect man/woman” as close as possible. Of course this is not to say the defitions of such a being is identical among human beings. I think the definition is broadly cultural. And on a deeper layer very personal. Some of them refuse to get stereotyped and be as they are: these are your “exceptions” Ash.

Until our definitions of the “perfect man/woman” change men will try to be “macho” and women will be “demure”.

Uh oh, I seemd to have really riled you up Divya ! Okay,let me clarify..

I wasn’t trying to stereotype anybody. I think theres a distinct difference between sterotyping and making a generalisation, and the difference lies in the attitude. Its like saying dogs are friendly and lovable, while cats are proud and aloof – its a popular and quite accurate generalisation, yet anybody who’s had a dog or a cat knows that’s not always true.

I’m not ignoring uniqueness of an individual as a factor. The problem is that when you discuss an issue, you can only give your own individual viewpoint, and if you’re talking about the attitude of people/society, you can’t really take into consideration all the variations in personality. Hence you generalize …

And you’re absolutely right, I do agree that the definitions of a perfect man/woman are cultural and personal; and trying to fit in with that definition is why men and women tend to act in certain ways. And until those definitions change, male and female attitudes will not.

But here I will add, from the perspective of a biology student, that nature has made us in a certain way, and its a simple fact of life that men are not only physically different from women, but their inherent brain patterning is also different. Social conditioning does influence adult attitude, but there are inherent differences in the way men and women perceive the world.

And thats what makes life interesting after all.

As usual I am late to addressing the arguments.

Ash- I understand there are physical differences in men and women. But when men can become women and vice versa arent these distinguishing features blurring? I have seen many women who dress like men, who think like men. There were several women terrorists in the beslan siege? so wat does that say about the “characteristic” of being “gentle” of a women?

I am not sure of the brain patterns thing. But well I think the only aspects that might be differnt will the physique. But I think science will discover solutions for that too!

Of course, I must take my words back on women not being too interested in politics.

Divya, we were talking about more than physical differences…some things that women intrinsically enjoy more than men and vice versa e.g. fashion, shopping, personal thought-sharing, etc. But that doesn’t mean that men don’t do it at all. The stereotypes may change over the years..always has.

Ash, you certainly seem to enjoy your time in the blogging community. It is always great to have more people on board especially those with reasonable opinions and an open mind.

Girls, lage raho :)