Women's Brains versus Men's Brains?

Brain PlasticityBiological deterministic approaches teach us about the differences between a woman’s brain and a man’s brain. However, new extensive researches in Neuroscience prove that major differences exist between individuals’ brains. “Brain plasticity” is the key concept to explore. It refers to the capacity of the nervous system to change its structure and, its function over a lifetime, in reaction to environmental diversity. In that sense, every individual has the capacity to evolve parts of his/her brain, depending on his/her personal experiences and the impact of his/her environment. Sex differences that grow larger through childhood are likely shaped by social learning.

Social Learning

Parents: in spite of best intentions, different expectations, interactions, and attributions for success of boys and girls.

Peers: Gender segregation and conformity create two separate cultures that reinforce different interests, abilities, and relational styles. Even adults avoid careers where they’re strongly outnumbered by opposite sex.

Teachers: Teachers’ expectations well-known to shape student outcomes.

 Larger culture (& media): Babies can categorize “male” versus “female” even before they gender identify. More media exposure associated with stronger stereotyped views in children. Some sex stereotyped views in children. Some sex differences (e.g. body image dissatisfaction) have actually increased in recent decades.

Simply put, environment and experiences change our brains.

“Yes, men and women are psychologically different and yes, neuroscientists are uncovering many differences in brain anatomy and physiology which seem to explain our behavioral differences. But just because a difference is biological doesn’t mean it is “hard-wired.” Individuals’ gender traits—their preference for masculine or feminine clothes, careers, hobbies and interpersonal styles—are inevitably shaped more by rearing and experience than is their biological sex. Likewise, their brains, which are ultimately producing all this masculine or feminine behavior, must be molded—at least to some degree—by the sum of their experiences as a boy or girl”.

According to Dr Catherine Vidal, neurobiologist extraordinaire and Director of Research at the Institute Pasteur in France, “only 10% of our 100 billion neurons are interconnected at birth and the remaining 90% of the connections are built gradually, based on the influences of family, education, culture and society. During the developmental process, the brain integrates external components that are linked with the history of each influence. ‘This is called brain plasticity.’That is why we all have different brains. And differences between individuals of one sex are so important that they will prevail over those between the sexes“.

The Institute Pasteur Research Director also rejects the theory that male brains are more suitable to abstract reasoning, especially mathematics. While some people may think that most women do not chose careers in maths-intensive fields because they lack mathematical ability, new studies show that they choose not to study maths because they want the flexibility to raise children, or because they prefer less maths-intensive fields of science. The idea that it is because they lack the ability is wholly unwarranted.


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  1. Well said! And if applied in Lebanese kindergarten environment, one can see the differentiated way adopted in teaching girls and boys: wear pink/blue, play with dolls/cars, birthdays’ themes (princesses versus Spiderman) etc.

  2. Loved the article! Thank you Dr. Chrabieh! Brain plasticity is indeed a revolutionary concept. However, it will take a LOT to operate the shift from biological determinism to brain plasticity, especially in the Muslim World and in the Middle East.

  3. Enlightening approach! Biological differences are not so important between men and women… And gender stereotypes have to be identified and deconstructed!

  4. Amazing! Thank you Dr.! New insight! And it helps deconstruct not only gender stereotypes but also sex differences’ stereotypes!

  5. Also about this article: love it! First time i encounter the concept of Brain plasticity. Applied to feminist studies in the Middle East!

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