Gender Differences-Psychologist Janet Shibley Hyde, Phd, of the University of Wisconsin in Madison

DB3
Gender Differences
Psychologist Janet Shibley Hyde, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, discovered that males and females from childhood to adulthood are more alike than different on most psychological variables, resulting in what she calls a gender similarities hypothesis.
A 2005 analysis of 46 meta-analyses that were conducted during the last two decades of the 20th century underscores that men and women are basically alike in terms of personality, cognitive ability and leadership. Doctor Hyde observed that across the dozens of studies, consistent with the gender similarities hypothesis, gender differences had either no or a very small effect on most of the psychological variables examined. Only a few main differences appeared: Compared with women, men could throw farther, were more physically aggressive, masturbated more, and held more positive attitudes about sex in uncommitted relationships.
Furthermore, Hyde found that gender differences seem to depend on the context in which they were measured.
As M C states in her DB, there has been lots of debate over gender differences and depending on the subject group and other variables, myth and fact can both be plausible. By putting genders into perspective in relation to empirical testing, the comparison is between the average woman and the average man and does not deal with individuals. Ultimately the similarities outweigh the differences, but do not tell us anything about individuals. Therefore there are always going to be gender generalisations.
One questions begs the asking, if we didn’t have sex organs would that mean we would all be seen in the same light? No more male female just big, small, black and white? Are we the sum total of our sex organs? I think not, not only do they separate us they provide us with physical characteristics that clearly separate us into our genders, such as breasts and other physical identifiers, psychologically there are many differences between the thought patterns of a male and female.
The ancient roles, according to Bridey Mildren (Discussion Board 3), have been taught to each generation through a child’s conditioning, for example girls were expected to play with dolls and boys with trucks. To balance this however was the fear that if boys played with dolls they might turn gay! Or girls that played with trucks would be more masculine, however society is slowly changing and increasing equality is allowing girls and boys to choose the role that they desire.
On research i found this interesting website regarding Transgender Rights Advocacy
MYTH: Gender stereotyping affects few Americans, and mainly those who want to change their sex.

FACT: In fact, at some time in their life, almost every American is shamed, harassed, isolated, or even attacked because they don’t meet someone’s idea of a "real man" or a "real woman."

MYTH: Boys will be boys: bullying is wrong, but natural.

FACT: It’s not only not natural, but it’s increasingly violent. Five of eight assailants in recent school shooting incidents were reportedly students who had been repeatedly gender-bashed and gender-baited in school. In 2002, gay and transgender two-spirit Navajo teen Fred Martinez, Jr. was beaten to death by another student in Cortez, CO. Victims of school bullying are not confined to boys: a recent Harvard University report revealed that 20% of teenage girls are assaulted by a boyfriend, increasing their risk of bulimia/anorexia, early pregnancy, drug abuse, and suicide. Intraa (2003)

Reference List:
Intraa (2003) http://www.intraa.tgcrossroads.org/connections/story/?aid=811&iid=32 (Accessed 10th of November 2008)

Janet Shibley Hyde, PhD Men and Women: No Big Difference (2008 http://www.psychologymatters.org/nodifference.html