Brain DevelopmentAren't they the same? We have lived in Hunter-Gatherer societies for ninety-nine percent of our human time-line! Our brains developed in unique and gender specific ways that enabled us to survive as a species. Women Were The Connectors...Their survival depended on their ability to relate to each other and to the hunters who provided food. Their children depended on them to be able to bond and relate to them. Thus, the verbal and emotional centers of women's brains developed to support those needs.Women Were The Gatherers...Their work was gathering seeds, roots and insects. They needed fine motor skills, and so their finger sensitivity and dexterity developed.Their work required attention to detail and allowed time for discussion. They needed a heightened awareness of the ‘big picture,’ which gave them a sense of caution of what was around them. Women’s bodies developed smaller but they were able to endure greater hardship. Men Were The Hunters...Hunting required short bursts of strong muscular activity (gross motor skills). They needed to be single-focused, with hair-trigger responses that supported their ability to find food. When the chase was on, there was no time to talk, someone was in charge and the hunters did as they were told.Men Were The Providers...With hunting came recklessness and a certain degree of self-sacrifice. Men were willing to risk everything to provide food for their women and children.
How Do These Developmental Differences Play Out Today?In the 20th century, the clear delineations of male and female roles have become ambiguous and murky, leaving men confused.Jobs have changed from those requiring manual labor to those requiring communication and social skills. Women have become more confident, taking more control of their lives, leaving less room for men to be the caretakers and providers. Women want to discuss and relate. Men prefer to talk less and move quickly to solutions.
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