clovenhooves The Personal Is Political Institutional Sexism Research into male/female differences--a redo is required?

Research into male/female differences--a redo is required?

Research into male/female differences--a redo is required?

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ptittle
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Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM
#1
Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.
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ptittle
Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM #1

Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.

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eyeswideopen
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Jun 4 2025, 5:57 AM
#2
(Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM)ptittle Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.

This is a very good point and something I've wondered myself (as a nulligravida female). E.g., fetomaternal microchimerism has implications both if a women doesn't have autoimmune disease or if she does. How about those females who have never been pregnant - are they more or less inclined to develop autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.
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eyeswideopen
Jun 4 2025, 5:57 AM #2

(Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM)ptittle Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.

This is a very good point and something I've wondered myself (as a nulligravida female). E.g., fetomaternal microchimerism has implications both if a women doesn't have autoimmune disease or if she does. How about those females who have never been pregnant - are they more or less inclined to develop autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.

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Magpie
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Jun 4 2025, 7:05 AM
#3
(Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM)ptittle Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.

If you're talking specifically about research that looks at brain differences, then no, off the top of my head I can't remember seeing a study make a distinction like that. Women who are currently pregnant tend to be excluded due to ethical concerns (which is why these brain changes during pregnancy are only starting to get studied recently) but that's about it.

It's an interesting point though, because normally you're supposed to make sure that the two groups you're comparing are in fact comparable, and that there aren't any confounding factors. Since men can't go through something even somewhat similar to pregnancy, the effects of pregnancy should be controlled for. At least if you're trying to find inherent differences.

That said, even without taking this into consideration, a lot of these supposed differences are kinda questionable. This study (https://phys.org/news/2010-09-gender-gap-spatial-ability.html) looks at 3 decades of brain sex research and finds that most differences are due to differences in brain size.
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Magpie
Jun 4 2025, 7:05 AM #3

(Jun 4 2025, 4:58 AM)ptittle Does any research into the differences between male and female distinguish between females who have experienced pregnancy and childbirth and those who have not?  It's doubtful, since most research is conducted by men, to whom making such a distinction would not even occur.
 
But there are permanent changes to the brain as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.  "Gray matter becomes more concentrated" and "Activity increases in regions that control empathy, anxiety, and social interaction."  There are also changes in the amygdala, "which helps process memory and drives emotional reactions like fear, anxiety, and aggression" (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/01/what-happens-to-a-womans-brain-when-she-becomes-a-mother/384179/)
 
So are the much touted differences between male and female differences between male and only mothering females?  If so, that entire area of research needs to be redone.

If you're talking specifically about research that looks at brain differences, then no, off the top of my head I can't remember seeing a study make a distinction like that. Women who are currently pregnant tend to be excluded due to ethical concerns (which is why these brain changes during pregnancy are only starting to get studied recently) but that's about it.

It's an interesting point though, because normally you're supposed to make sure that the two groups you're comparing are in fact comparable, and that there aren't any confounding factors. Since men can't go through something even somewhat similar to pregnancy, the effects of pregnancy should be controlled for. At least if you're trying to find inherent differences.

That said, even without taking this into consideration, a lot of these supposed differences are kinda questionable. This study (https://phys.org/news/2010-09-gender-gap-spatial-ability.html) looks at 3 decades of brain sex research and finds that most differences are due to differences in brain size.

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ptittle
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Yesterday, 5:38 AM
#4
Good point about the exclusion; I had thought of that, but didn't follow it through. If it is consistently done, then the results are as valid as they'be been claimed to be, but they really should still state that they're comparing the subset of females with the whole set of males (for this very good reason). But again, that probably wouldn't occur to most male researchers.

Perhaps they should more closely consider the confounding factor of variable levels in males and females of testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. (And on that note, I'd love to see more studies of female atheletic performance vis-a-vis their hormone levels, i.e. their place in their menstrual cycle on competition day.)
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ptittle
Yesterday, 5:38 AM #4

Good point about the exclusion; I had thought of that, but didn't follow it through. If it is consistently done, then the results are as valid as they'be been claimed to be, but they really should still state that they're comparing the subset of females with the whole set of males (for this very good reason). But again, that probably wouldn't occur to most male researchers.

Perhaps they should more closely consider the confounding factor of variable levels in males and females of testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. (And on that note, I'd love to see more studies of female atheletic performance vis-a-vis their hormone levels, i.e. their place in their menstrual cycle on competition day.)

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ptittle
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Yesterday, 5:40 AM
#5
Just took a look at the link you provided ... anecdotal, but, my father would show only my brother 'the map' when we were driving, not me and my sister. Sigh. Maybe we were allowed to fold it back up neat and nice.
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ptittle
Yesterday, 5:40 AM #5

Just took a look at the link you provided ... anecdotal, but, my father would show only my brother 'the map' when we were driving, not me and my sister. Sigh. Maybe we were allowed to fold it back up neat and nice.

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Magpie
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Yesterday, 7:55 AM
#6
Looks like I linked the wrong study, it was this one I was talking about: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763421000804?via%3Dihub . Sorry about that!

On the topic of research on the menstrual cycle and women's athletic performance, there was an interesting study published earlier this year. Not only did they not find any difference in reaction times and accuracy between male and female participants, contrary to popular belief women on their natural cycle actually did better while on their period (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393224001246?via%3Dihub#sec4)

I know one study is not enough to make up for the lack of research in this area, but I thought you might find it interesting regardless!
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Magpie
Yesterday, 7:55 AM #6

Looks like I linked the wrong study, it was this one I was talking about: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763421000804?via%3Dihub . Sorry about that!

On the topic of research on the menstrual cycle and women's athletic performance, there was an interesting study published earlier this year. Not only did they not find any difference in reaction times and accuracy between male and female participants, contrary to popular belief women on their natural cycle actually did better while on their period (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393224001246?via%3Dihub#sec4)

I know one study is not enough to make up for the lack of research in this area, but I thought you might find it interesting regardless!

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ptittle
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Yesterday, 1:18 PM
#7
I do indeed! Thank you! (Few participants in fora such as these can actually link to studies!)
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ptittle
Yesterday, 1:18 PM #7

I do indeed! Thank you! (Few participants in fora such as these can actually link to studies!)

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