#RepealThe19th

[Bob Butler 54]

(10-13-2016, 10:55 PM)taramarie Wrote:

(10-13-2016, 10:41 PM)pbrower2a Wrote: "in part because women are not as reckless in their support of ultra-nationalist and racist  causes as men."

Why is that?

There is an answer than not everyone likes, but since you asked...

Hunter Gatherer and Agricultural Age human cultures generally feature division of labor by gender.  While we haven't much knowledge of pre-human culture, it seems reasonable to assume that for millions of years the human genders evolved to fulfill different tasks.  The males are more often hunters and defenders of territory.  The females are more often gatherers and nurturers of the young. (Some, such as Cynic Hero, would disagree.)

It is not always polite to point this out in a culture where all humans are supposed to be created equal, but there is no doubt that this tendency definitely exists to this day.  It's weakening.  Technology makes strength less important and equality based cultures are opening doors once kept firmly locked.  Still, the trend is rather obvious.

There are some who argue that since the genders evolved to fill specific roles, cultures should force their members to do what they are naturally inclined to do.  Thus, males might be drafted into the military while females aren't, while women are kept in the home and aren't given jobs or leadership roles which they are supposedly not inclined or equipped to do.  

Many who live in Enlightenment based 'all men are created equal' cultures are inclined to reject this sort of thinking.  

Not everyone rejects that sort of thinking.

My point of view is that any member of either gender should be allowed to pursue any sort of role, whether traditional or not.  However, I am not surprised when more people follow traditional roles than not.

But getting back to the original question, if male emotions evolved for the violent hunting and defending territory roles,, with both stronger bodies and aggressive minds, males might be more inclined to exercise deadly behaviors.  If during much of human pre-history the cost effective behavior was for the males to form line of battle while the females gather up the young and climb a tree, some echo of these old behavior tendencies might remain.

Frankly, in an age of insurgent fighting and weapons of mass destruction, I'd be inclined to believe that we should promote the female instincts and behaviors more, the male aggressive and lethal behaviors less.