Are women really weaker than men?

[mcrow]

Physically women are no match at all for men. All you have to do is look at sports, you can put an all-star roster of the best women in the world together and the worst men’s team in college basketabll will utterly crush them. You look at wrestling, there are very few girls who can evern remotely comepete with boys of the same weight.

I know a woman who’s really into lifting weights and she is easily the strongest woman I’ve ever met, yet I can best her by 50-100 pounds in most lifts and were about the same height and weight.

God made men to be the protectors and the builders. The average male has something like 5’9"-5’10" and about 170-180 pounds and if in decent shape about 15% bodyfat. The average woman is 5’5" and ~ 130-140 pounds and around 20-25% BF in good shape. The average male has ~150 pounds of lean mass (muscle & bone), the average female has around 105 pounds of leans mass. Women naturally have a higher BF% as is needed for convieving, carrying and carring for a baby. So, comparing physical strength isn’t really fair as pound for pound men are made to be stronger.

I also think that women also tend to be more emotionally weak.

However, I think that women, if anythng, are stronger in faith than men. Women can do things men can’t. They can be every bit as strong as man intellectually. Only a woman could be strong enough to bear children, if was left up to us men there would be no kids. Women can be the glue that keeps a family together just as much, if not more than the man.

Not to mention most strong Catholic women are just good at making their husbands feel like they’re in charge when it could not be more the opposite.

 

[LucyLight]

This may of been already stated but women outlive men. Reasons like mens bodies tend to store excess iron that lead to heart attacks is more of a factor in our modern lifestyles. If a baby is born premature the baby has a much greater chance of survival if its female. So maybe mens muscles are stronger but if you look at the entire body not so much.

As far as who is emotionaly weaker. Since the majority of crime is committed by men I think its hard to say that women are weaker. Women as a whole seem to display more self control. Women might cry more but that is not a sign of weakness. Lacking self control is a sign of weakness. Look at the pews at Mass. Majority of parishners are women. Where are the men? Sleeping in?

Regards to pain tolerance who knows? I read a study that said that athletes have a higher pain tolerance. This was do to conditioning the body to endure more (think distance runners).

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Regarding emotional weakness, I think the perception that women are emotionally weaker may be largely due to their simply being less shy about and in general better at showing their emotions, which could actually be a healthy thing. It might be that they allow their emotions to influence their reasoning more than men do, though (as always, only speaking in terms of averages). Another case of complimentary strengths and weaknesses, it seems to me.

Perhaps a large part of the differences between men and women could come down to men being more internally compartmentalized and women being more internally integrated. Each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Just a theory.

 

[mcrow]

This may of been already stated but women outlive men. Reasons like mens bodies tend to store excess iron that lead to heart attacks is more of a factor in our modern lifestyles. If a baby is born premature the baby has a much greater chance of survival if its female. So maybe mens muscles are stronger but if you look at the entire body not so much.

As far as who is emotionaly weaker. Since the majority of crime is committed by men I think its hard to say that women are weaker. Women as a whole seem to display more self control. Women might cry more but that is not a sign of weakness. Lacking self control is a sign of weakness. Look at the pews at Mass. Majority of parishners are women. Where are the men? Sleeping in?

Regards to pain tolerance who knows? I read a study that said that athletes have a higher pain tolerance. This was do to conditioning the body to endure more (think distance runners).

Most crimes are not emotionally connected, so I’m not sure about your theory. Most murders may be related but murders make up a relatively small % of crimes. The reason I say that women are emotionally weaker is that they are more than 2x as likely to have a mental illness. This is a fact, I’m not making that up.

It’s beginning to be come more clear now that part of the reason why men die earlier is that testerone levels are very important to men’s heart health. Not only that but physical strength in men tends to be an indicator of longevity. Actually studies have shown that men (and even women) with stronger grips live longer.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Most crimes are not emotionally connected, so I’m not sure about your theory. Most murders may be related but murders make up a relatively small % of crimes. The reason I say that women are emotionally weaker is that they are more than 2x as likely to have a mental illness. This is a fact, I’m not making that up.

It’s beginning to be come more clear now that part of the reason why men die earlier is that testerone levels are very important to men’s heart health. Not only that but physical strength in men tends to be an indicator of longevity. Actually studies have shown that men (and even women) with stronger grips live longer.

Having mental illness doesn’t equal being emotionally weaker.

I think it is a fallacy to think women as emotionally weaker. Women in general express emotions more freely, crying when sad, talking thing through when feeling upset.

Men,often do not deal well with emotions, they often cover them up, bottle them up and then lose their tempers.

Violent crime is a crime of emotion (rage) Men commit more of these crimes then women.

**

**
Violent victimizers
**

During an average year, based on the
period 1993-97, victims of violence
attributed the crimes they experienced
to an estimated 2.1 million female
violent offenders and 13.1 million male
violent offenders.

bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/wo.pdf**

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Women as a whole seem to display more self control.

It depends on what sin we are talking about. I don’t mean to reinforce a negative stereotype more than is just, but it’s true that many women are more given to social sins like gossip. We could also look at certain political issues, in which more women than men have taken downright inhuman (and anti-feminine) positions, for whatever reason.

On average though men are, largely due to hormonal differences, likely to have stronger sexual and aggressive inclinations. It’s not surprising then that men would commit more crimes and sins related to lust and wrath than women, though consider also the greater strength of will required to resist stronger temptations. Who is stronger, the person with weaker temptations or the person who successfully resists stronger temptations?

Again, I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but it’s not a matter of overall superiority and inferiority but of different sets of strengths and weaknesses.

 

[LucyLight]

It depends on what sin we are talking about. I don’t mean to reinforce a negative stereotype more than is just, but it’s true that many women are more given to social sins like gossip. We could also look at certain political issues, in which more women than men have taken downright inhuman (and anti-feminine) positions, for whatever reason.

On average though men are, largely due to hormonal differences, likely to have stronger sexual and aggressive inclinations. It’s not surprising then that men would commit more crimes and sins related to lust and wrath than women, though consider also the greater strength of will required to resist stronger temptations. Who is stronger, the person with weaker temptations or the person who successfully resists stronger temptations?

Again, I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but it’s not a matter of overall superiority and inferiority but of different sets of strengths and weaknesses.

I agree that it is not an issue of superiority and inferiority both sexes have strengths and weaknesses.

However, I do think that having more self control is a good measure, if not the best measure, of emotional strength. Crimes are largely committed out of emotion if you look at prisons or even the sex offender registry it becomes clear who as a group has more self control. Even regarding children, go to any elementary school and see what gender is in the office waiting to see the principal.

You say men have stronger temptations but thats just an explaination as to why they tend to have less self control it doesn’t change the end result.

 

[TryingToLearn]

Men and women are complementary and so many things we look at and say, that’s a strength or a weakness is just a narrow assessment of the trait, value, or characteristic…

Without assigning gender to them, there is the emotional response to tragedy. On one end of the spectrum might be stoicism to the point of seeming insensitive on the other end might be empathy to the point of being distraught.

Neither extreme is a strength. And one end without a complementary dose of the other can lead to tragic consequences in the long term.

We need empathy for compassion. We need stoicism to make rational choices in crisis.

We can stereotype which gender is more empathetic and which is more stoic. But it doesn’t make one stronger than the other. And the same is true of so many other traits we label as strength or weakness… The differences are complementary and that is how God made us to exist. In community, with a partner that complements our traits.

 

[Neildown]

I’m reading a Christian book on the role of men. In it, it claims that women are weaker than men. Is that really true in a Catholic context? If so, in what respects are women weaker? I don’t buy into all of the feminist propaganda, but to me, the claim sounded a bit sexist. I’m more of the opinion that men and women are equals, and of equal but different strength. What’s your take on this topic? Thank you.

Perhaps in a general sense, as concerns biology and perhaps slightly in mentality due to said biology (ie. maybe more self-confidence due to general physical attributes). Men and women both have their strengths and weaknesses though. It also sounds like its a book meant specifically for males, so maybe its trying to take on a chivalrous tone but gave the wrong message.

 

[mcrow]

Perhaps in a general sense, as concerns biology and perhaps slightly in mentality due to said biology (ie. maybe more self-confidence due to general physical attributes). Men and women both have their strengths and weaknesses though. It also sounds like its a book meant specifically for males, so maybe its trying to take on a chivalrous tone but gave the wrong message.

Yes, men have weaknesses as well.

#1- I think we are more apt to sin via pride.
#2- Have more issues with being overly agressive and abusive. (not me personally)
#3- Incredibly selfish in young adult age (not that young women are not like that as well but more of a problem with males, IMO)
#4- More likely to sin via sins of the flesh (again not exclusive to us)

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

HI,
Perhaps the majority of men are stronger physically than most women, with exceptions of course. But I’ve never had trouble with this idea, as women are graced with so many gifts that it more than balances out!
Best wishes,
Kathryn Ann

 

[mcrow]

HI,
Perhaps the majority of men are stronger physically than most women, with exceptions of course. But I’ve never had trouble with this idea, as women are graced with so many gifts that it more than balances out!
Best wishes,
Kathryn Ann

Yes, and the fact that women are so strong inspite of the physical limitations is what makes ya’ll so amazing.

 

[Luvz2travel]

Before I post let me state that I like guys I grew up mainly around guys but they have fragile egos. Like anything else we’re all individuals and everyone is unique. That said from my experience guys seem to be weaker emotionally than females. Woman just seem stronger in this area to me. Maybe it’s just the people I’ve been exposed to I don’t know. Of course men are stronger physically that’s not debatable but it just evens things out I guess but I don’t think overall one gender is better than the other.

 

[mini_me640]

Most crimes are not emotionally connected, so I’m not sure about your theory. Most murders may be related but murders make up a relatively small % of crimes. The reason I say that women are emotionally weaker is that they are more than 2x as likely to have a mental illness. This is a fact, I’m not making that up.

Women are more likely to be DIAGNOSED with a mental illness. I would venture to say that women are more likely to admit they need help in that area and go see a doctor about emotional/mental issues. Men commit suicide at much higher rates (79% of suicides in the US in 2009 were men according to the CDC) which suggests more undiagnosed / uncontrolled mental illness.

 

[EasterJoy]

Pilate/Paul, Jesus/Adam, Mary/Eve…there are far more differences in every respect between individuals than between the sexes. In nearly every respect that I can think of that I am typical of my sex, I can think of a male that is more so than I am; likewise, I can think of males that have less of nearly every “typical” male trait than I do. We’re on a bell curver, here.

In general, we have a different make-up, and so we tend to be stronger and weaker under different circumstances. For instance, men’s bodies are more adapted to exertions requiring power, but women’s are more adapted to exertions requiring endurance. Having said that, again…there’s far more difference between individuals.

I’d say the place it makes a difference is in groups and when you are comparing the best or the worst of each gender. The best male basketball players are quite different than the best females. The worst male serial killers are quite different (and more prevalent) than females.

Also, there is a big difference in what it means to have a person of a particular gender in a particular role. You can have a male teacher or a female teacher, but whether they are male or female does make a difference, even when they’re not “typical” of their gender in some way or another. I guess I’d say that gender has ritual significance, symbolic significance, that is felt on a very deep level even when it isn’t articulated. A “masculine” mother is still your mom, a “feminine” dad is still your dad. We know the difference between male and female from a very young age, and it does make a difference to us that is felt.

A group of males of a particular age will tend toward quite different strengths and weaknesses than a group of females. For instance, the incident where a female softball player hit a home run and then couldn’t get around the bases because she blew out her knee. Her teammates couldn’t help her, but her opponents admired her and decided that they would carry her around the bases, which was not against the rules. I’ve talked to many males, and this violates their entire understanding of the nature of competition. They would never do that and would not want it done for them, and it would not mean the same thing to them if it happened.

Some of this is cultural, but I think there is a real genetic difference for some of it. I will go out on a limb and say that while it is OK to remove the cultural constructs that exaggerate these differences and even wrong try to produce a characteristic that is typical of the group but doesn’t exist some particular individual or group, I think it is detrimental to try to use culture to artificially erase these differences that arise naturally, too. Socialize them, yes, put boundaries on them, yes, but don’t try to artificially prop up the notion that the differences don’t exist.

I’m not saying there is no value in asking people to take on some gender-specific behavior that isn’t their particular cup of tea. There just has to be a limit to it; you don’t tell people that they aren’t “really” members of their gender if they are atypical.

I hope that makes sense. There needs to be balance, I think that’s all I’m saying.

 

[mcrow]

Women are more likely to be DIAGNOSED with a mental illness. I would venture to say that women are more likely to admit they need help in that area and go see a doctor about emotional/mental issues. Men commit suicide at much higher rates (79% of suicides in the US in 2009 were men according to the CDC) which suggests more undiagnosed / uncontrolled mental illness.

Sorry, but I work in medical statistics and it’s pretty clear by the diagnosis and symptoms that it’s not some sort of mirage. Women really are more likely to have mental illness. The reason has yet to be explained.

 

[Nilla_Bean]

I’d agree. Generally speaking (in my own experience) men tend to be more stable in emotional situations, more able to stay calm and collected, and think logically.

Note I said generaly.

I also don’t get why women seem to balk at the notion of being less strong than a man.

 

[severus68]

I’d agree. Generally speaking (in my own experience) men tend to be more stable in emotional situations, more able to stay calm and collected, and think logically.

Note I said generaly.

I also don’t get why women seem to balk at the notion of being less strong than a man.

So only in your experience, generally men are more emotionally stable. So that is not a fact, just your view. I prefer not to make statements like that and take each person as she/he is.

A pygmy man may not be physically stronger than a 5ft 9in American woman but how does all this matter in the greater scheme of things?

Which women are ‘balking’? Physically stronger?

Pound for pound a dog is stronger than a human being and?

 

[mini_me640]

Sorry, but I work in medical statistics and it’s pretty clear by the diagnosis and symptoms that it’s not some sort of mirage. Women really are more likely to have mental illness. The reason has yet to be explained.

I wasn’t suggesting it was a mirage, but don’t you think the high suicide rates among men indicate that those men have emotional and mental illnesses that aren’t being dealt with?

 

[Nilla_Bean]

So only in your experience, generally men are more emotionally stable. So that is not a fact, just your view. I prefer not to make statements like that and take each person as she/he is.

A pygmy man may not be physically stronger than a 5ft 9in American woman but how does all this matter in the greater scheme of things?

Which women are ‘balking’? Physically stronger?

Pound for pound a dog is stronger than a human being and?

No need to get so bent out of shape at my opinions that women are, beautifully and rightfully so, the weaker sex. I’m perfectly content to embrace this. I think the problem arises not when a women naturally finds herself stronger but when she attempts to circumvent God’s plan and maker herself purposefully stronger.
I do, however, concede that these are unpopular opinions. I don’t think any lesser of a woman who doesn’t uphold them.