The last two weeks we’ve looked at how men and women are different both in the way their bodies function and in the way that they think. These differences in physical make up and ways of thinking cause males and females to have different priorities.
Of course, these priority differences are generalities. Every time we make a statement about men as a class or women as a class, we recognize that there are going to be exceptions. However, most men and most women are more similar in most ways to those of their own gender as opposed to those of the opposite gender. It’s still helpful to look at the trends and acknowledge them. What are some of the differences in priorities that men and women have? While there are more than are mentioned here, there are two big ones that I think are particularly worth examining.
Different Feelings Towards Risk
Women are generally more risk averse. They want stability and they don’t want to mess things up (perhaps because, as we learned last week, they tend to ruminate on the past). Men are more willing to take a chance and try something new, even if they know the consequences will be bad if they fail.
This preference can be seen in the jobs that women generally prefer. Women are less likely than men to want to do a dangerous job or one that is volatile. Jobs aren’t the only place this difference can be seen. Men are much more likely to be addicted to gambling than women are. There are both good and bad aspects to heightened risk aversion.
Difference Life Emphasis
As a general rule, women are more family and relationship oriented. If you’ve ever heard about wage inequality in the workplace, you may have seen this at play. In reality, if you compare two identical positions where the two individuals have been in the workplace the same amount of time and have the same qualifications, men and women make an equal amount (and in some cases women make more).
Where the disparity comes in is that women often leave the workforce for extended periods of time to raise their families. In some cases this might be from necessity, but often this is something many women want to do. Additionally, women are less likely to desire jobs that keep them away from their friends and family for extended periods of time. Women are more likely than men to look for part time or flexible work, which also plays into the income disparity.
Once again, this doesn’t mean that every woman values her relationships over her job and every man does the opposite. There are exceptions, but generally, these are the priorities that the genders have. Men have a desire and drive to provide and continue to push in their careers, even if it means they don’t spend quite as much time with their friends and family. While women still have ambition and drive, they usually seek out a healthier balance of work and home life.
Not Right or Wrong, Just Different
As we’ve seen before, different doesn’t mean unequal. Just because men and women have different priorities, that doesn’t mean that either men and women are doing it completely right. On the contrary, we need to embrace and learn from both genders. Men remind us to take risks and to drive until we succeed. We have to work in order to live. We have to push hard in order to accomplish our goals.
Women remind us that ambition can’t be the only thing in our lives. Not every risk is worth taking. Life balance is important. We also need to make time with family and friends. Success, when defined as raises, promotions, etc., isn’t the only thing that matters in life.
We shouldn’t disparage the other gender because they have things to offer. There are things we have to learn from one another. However, we also shouldn’t try to make those of the other gender completely conform to our attitudes and priorities. We should learn from one another and strive to balance one another out without trying to make us something that we aren’t. God has created us to think and prioritize differently for a reason. If we ignore that, we miss out on all God has for us.