Gender  and Cognitive Abilities, and Emotion Assignment

Are males smarter than females or is the opposite true? And are boys really better at math than girls? If you base your answer on the number of male versus female engineers or mathematicians, you might answer “yes.” However, the real question that needs to be addressed is this:

Are there really biological differences in the brains of males and females when it comes to intelligence and cognitive ability or does society’s stereotyping create differences in behaviors that look like true differences? And, is this just prevalent in Western society, or are boys seemingly better at math in countries other than the United States, as well? This week begins with an exploration of the differences in intelligence and cognitive abilities between males and females, looking at the research on 1) whether there are differences, 2) what might be the causes of the differences, and 3) what impact differences or perceived differences might have on society.

In addition to looking at gender differences with regard to intelligence and cognitive abilities, this week you also will explore the differences between males and females in how each feels and expresses emotion. Think about the professional situation in which a female executive is bullied in a business meeting and begins to cry. Are females just weaker when it comes to emotions? Are they less professional? Do males have a higher resistance to anger or frustration? Or, do males just not express these emotions in tears? These are some of the questions on the table this week. Get Social Science help today