# Is it a male-dominated world? Why or why not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 27, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563 "2018-01-27T02:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/81 "2018-01-28T10:34:55Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The obligatory [James Brown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juTeHsKPWhY). I think the [Residents](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV9CbKFmiKY)are more in line with the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/82 "2018-01-28T10:38:55Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > That’s less than a 1% difference. Biologically, you don’t need an equal ratio of men to women. Actually, it’s a 7% difference. I hope you’re better at calculating your degrees of advance, oh Mr Mighty Project Manager! ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/83 "2018-01-28T14:35:05Z")
So if I’m understanding correctly, women are vastly underrepresented in all areas of society. They are demonstrably wildly outnumbered by men at every level of government, economics, business, and science. But that’s only because they _want_ to be. Am I getting the (for lack of a better word let’s call it) argument? . ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/84 "2018-01-28T15:21:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Men are often portrayed stupidly in television commercials. I always figured it was indicative that women make the majority of household purchasing decisions. \*People \*are often portrayed stupidly in ads. When’s the last time you saw an ad where a man was too stupid to drain pasta to the horror of his family, or was a 50-something who had only just been taught by a doctor that nerves are what carries pain signals from the brain? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/85 "2018-01-28T17:36:14Z")
> [@andros](#): > > So if I’m understanding correctly, women are vastly underrepresented in all areas of society. They are demonstrably wildly outnumbered by men at every level of government, economics, business, and science. > > But that’s only because they _want_ to be. > > Am I getting the (for lack of a better word let’s call it) argument? > . No, he’s saying it’s because they \*deserve \*to be. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/86 "2018-01-28T17:39:13Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Even I’m old enough to remember when a man’s wife was considered his personal property … and if he wanted to beat her to death then that was his own affair … and none of ours … No, you are not. I’m 67 and this wasn’t true at any time in my life and wouldn’t have been true in my parent’s lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/87 "2018-01-28T18:43:19Z")
Maybe “wife,” “beat” and “death” were all meant figuratively. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/88 "2018-01-28T18:44:20Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Maybe “wife,” “beat” and “death” were all meant figuratively. One word: Islam ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/89 "2018-01-28T18:50:08Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > One word: Islam Not exactly unknown in Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/90 "2018-01-28T19:27:44Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > There were more than just one female character in _The Lord of the Rings_ … but at no time in the movies or books did two women have a conversation … think about it … women never talked to each other in Middle Earth … This being the Dope, the thread wouldn’t be complete without someone citing the exception that proves the rule. In Chapter 8, “The Houses of Healing” from Book 5, there’s [Ioreth](https://books.google.com/books?id=WZ0f_yUgc0UC&lpg=PT88&dq=%22Ioreth%22&pg=PT89#v=onepage&q=%22Ioreth%22&f=false) talking to another woman. “‘Well, now! Who would have believed it?’ said Ioreth to a woman who stood beside her. ‘The weed is better than I thought’…” There are other passages where Ioreth talks with her kinswoman about Aragorn. But here she is talking about the weed, so yes: (who would have believed it?), _The Lord of the Rings_ **just** squeaks by the Bechdel Test. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/91 "2018-01-28T20:14:21Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > If it was male-dominated world, why does the male have to wear the condom? You can throw the condom out the window, provided you are prepared to take up pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding and total responsibility for the children for, I don’t know, the rest of your LIFE!! (I don’t mean you personally ,Morgenstern, just men in general) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/92 "2018-01-29T00:13:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > \*People \*are often portrayed stupidly in ads. When’s the last time you saw an ad where a man was too stupid to drain pasta to the horror of his family, or was a 50-something who had only just been taught by a doctor that nerves are what carries pain signals from the brain? Sure, it’s a staple of advertising to show how difficult things are without their wonderful product. And it happens with both sexes, but it seems more common and egregious with men. When was the last time you saw an ad where a woman hit her head on a window because she was mesmerized by a potato chip? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/93 "2018-01-29T03:22:47Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > So, I like this good ole argument, and I just want to say the way people make it out to be is truly an exaggeration. Who has said something that you find to be an exaggeration? We need real evidence that something exaggerated has actually been said by some large number of people, not silly claims with no substance. (One can find any number of silly claims in the world–yours among them. If you want a debate, show that there is a serious group holding an explicit opinion, not cheesy lines from old movies.) > [@Luciano700](#): > > Here are my arguments > > If it was a men’s world truly, there would be more men than women Dumb idea. there are a few more women than men because men tend to do things to get killed at a higher rate than do women. > [@Luciano700](#): > > If it was truly a men’s world, there would be more son-father couples around What does this even mean? > [@Luciano700](#): > > If it was truly a men’s world, men would be used more in advertising > > If it was truly a men’s world, we would have gender neutral marketing then for a lot of things[Soaps, body wash, shampoo, etc] Dumb assumption. Women are used more in advertising on the grounds that they are more attractive to the power wielding men. Your claim does not even make sense. > [@Luciano700](#): > > If it was truly a male dominated world, there would be more female to male transitions out there. Do you have any idea how many of either there actually are? What are the statistics for each? What are the statistics for how many men or women are born with a condition that makes any change desirable? Without real numbers, your claim is just blowing smoke. > [@Luciano700](#): > > If it was really a men’s world, then men would barely have to put any effort into attraction… More silliness. The ration of men to women is not such that no man would have to work for companionship. And your nonsense ignores that fact that men do put as much effort into efforts at attraction. Since men perceive that women are attracted by power and wealth, (instead of physical beauty), that is where men invest their energy. You claim to want an argument, then you post this ignorant and unthinking utter nonsense? This looks like you wanted something different than a debate. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/94 "2018-01-29T03:40:01Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Who has said something that you find to be an exaggeration? We need real evidence that something exaggerated has actually been said by some large number of people, not silly claims with no substance. (One can find any number of silly claims in the world–yours among them. If you want a debate, show that there is a serious group holding an explicit opinion, not cheesy lines from old movies.) > Dumb idea. there are a few more women than men because men tend to do things to get killed at a higher rate than do women. > > What does this even mean? > > Dumb assumption. Women are used more in advertising on the grounds that they are more attractive to the power wielding men. Your claim does not even make sense. > > Do you have any idea how many of either there actually are? What are the statistics for each? What are the statistics for how many men or women are born with a condition that makes any change desirable? Without real numbers, your claim is just blowing smoke. > More silliness. The ration of men to women is not such that no man would have to work for companionship. And your nonsense ignores that fact that men do put as much effort into efforts at attraction. Since men perceive that women are attracted by power and wealth, (instead of physical beauty), that is where men invest their energy. > > You claim to want an argument, then you post this ignorant and unthinking utter nonsense? This looks like you wanted something different than a debate. Well I already explain more along the way at least. I think as far the transgender stuff goes, I believe the acceptance plays a role in difference. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/95 "2018-01-29T06:47:56Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No, you are not. I’m 67 and this wasn’t true at any time in my life and wouldn’t have been true in my parent’s lifetime. Not in the US. However in Louisiana in 1978, my new wife - who was making far more money than me - could not get a check cashing card at the grocery because the Head and Master Law said that I owned all the property in the family, and she had no say in its disposition. It got repealed, but not without complaints by some legislators who said that got married under that law and they damn well expected things to stay that way. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/96 "2018-01-29T10:15:07Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Men control much of the power in the world, but women still control 100% of the vagina. So, male-on-female rape doesn’t exist in your world? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/97 "2018-01-29T11:34:57Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No, you are not. I’m 67 and this wasn’t true at any time in my life and wouldn’t have been true in my parent’s lifetime. I am turning 50 in March. In Spain, while she wasn’t officially considered the husband’s “property” in the way a cow or a house would be (she couldn’t be bought and sold), the turning point that made the country realize that _la maté porque era mía_ (I killed 'cos she was mine) was not acceptable was the murder of [Ana Orantes](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ana_Orantes) in December of 1997. That’s 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/98 "2018-01-29T11:46:30Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > No 107 men to 100 women is a 7% difference if you mean how many more men than women. Or it’s a 3.4% difference if you mean 51.7% boys are born vs 48.3%. Or it’s a 1.7% difference if you mean 1.7% more than half (though that seems an awkward use of difference). > > I don’t see how to get it to less than 1%. I meant 0.7% (which is incorrect).:smack: And it’s actually worse in China (around 115 to 100) thanks to their one child policy. Evolutionarily speaking, I still wonder why it’s around half. > [@MrDibble](#): > > So, male-on-female rape doesn’t exist in your world? Um…no, actually.:eek: But I get your point. > [@Nava](#): > > Actually, it’s a 7% difference. I hope you’re better at calculating your degrees of advance, oh Mr Mighty Project Manager! I mostly just buy the team donuts and check schedules. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/99 "2018-01-29T16:17:05Z")
Try living in the Middle East or India or any number of places for a year and then come back and submit a report on your experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563/100 "2018-01-29T17:41:23Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Try living in the Middle East or India or any number of places for a year and then come back and submit a report on your experiences. Someone didn’t read the thread and my opening post throughly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-male-dominated-world-why-or-why-not/807563.md?page=6)