The Gender Similarities Hypothesis

So this week in sociology class we discussed gender differences and how the media and our culture helps shape us to be normal men and women of a society. These different messages help us learn what is normal for a male and a female to do and act in a society and in life. For example, men are depicted as tough individuals that are looked down appone if emotion is shown. While women are peaceful and proper. But a study called "The Gender Similarities Hypothesis" shows us how very alike we are. Although men and women have differences they are very minimal in a psychological perspective. The society and culture shape us to make us as different as possible. A book "Men are from Mars, And Women are from Venus" only talks about the differences of men and women yet we are all taught to be different and act a certain way. So the very little actual differences between men and women are less then the similarities that we have between us. Nethertheless things will always make us believe that men and women must meet a certain standard that they are raised into. Men will always have to be men and women will always have to be women. In our world the differences will be in the spot light while the more massive similarities will be shut out in the dark unless we learn to accept that men and women are only the way they are because we as a society decide what they will be like. Maybe one day men will be more open with their emotions and less male teen suicides may occur and maybe one day women will stop letting everyone else decide what they should look like for them.