Sex differences have been usually seen as a result of social factors, but I believe
that they have also been remarkably influenced by our evolved biology.
A very good example is the parental investment theory which states that there is a conflict for both men a women in how much time, effort, and resources to invest in mating versus parenting. Since gestation occurs within the female, and because women provide most of the caring, nutrition, and support after birth, they are required to invest more in parenting to ensure their children’s survival, but at the same time to be more selective when choosing a partner. One the contrary, men invest less in parenting, because paternal investment is not necessary for a successful reproduction. Males’ investment may be as little as the sperm produced during copulation. What men can do is invest more effort in mating to increase the number of offspring, which has predisposed them to invest less in their children’s care, and to be more inclined to pursue short-term casual sex.
Gender differences in communication also seem to show that there might be some truth when people say “men are from Mars and women from Venus”. Research has shown that women are more prone to interpret people’s emotional behaviors. When we take into consideration that ancestral women had to spend most of their time in female gathering groups, helping each other, and expressing their feelings about social and family matters, it should come as no surprise that modern women continue to respond similarly. Instead, men have had to compete throughout
history for status and position, developing aggressive and direct behaviors. This most have predisposed men to display more task-oriented behaviors in their interactions, and to communicate in a more direct and instrumental way.
Bjorklund, D.F., & Shackelford, T.K. (1999). Differences in parental investment contribute to important differences between men and women. Blackwell Publishers, Inc.
