# Is there any inherent advantage in being a male over being a female or vice versa? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 12, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192 "2005-12-12T02:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/41 "2005-12-15T15:49:17Z")
A (platonic) male friend of mine and I agreed a long time ago that the relative trade offs could be simply espressed like this: Women can have multiple orgasms. Men can piss off the aft deck of a sailboat. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/42 "2005-12-15T15:57:04Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > Men can go on a first date without having to worry about being raped by their date. > > Men can get promoted to management positions without fear that they’ll be rejected because ‘he’ll just get pregnant and quit anyway.’ > > Men’s bodies are considered basically acceptable- they aren’t socially constrained to spend extra time every morning removing all body hair and repainting visible skin. > > Men’s reproductive functions aren’t considered dirty. > > Men can fully participate in any church they choose to join. > > If a man is assaulted, he can report it to the police without having to prove that he didn’t deserve to be assaulted. > > Men see themselves represented widely on television, in movies, and in athletics. (There’s a comic strip character who refuses to watch any movie which doesn’t include a scene in which two female, named characters have a conversation about something other than a man. When I checked my video collection, I was horrified at how few such movies I could find.) > > Men are more than fairly represented in government, and can make laws protecting their interests. > > Very few men are taught from their earliest childhood that their first duty is to graciously submit and obey. > > Men are not expected to wear shoes that hobble them so they can’t run away. Men can answer questions about _inherent_ advantages without dragging in their ten pet peeves about _societal_ disadvantages, nearly all of which are very much open to debate. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/43 "2005-12-15T16:20:23Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Men can answer questions about _inherent_ advantages without dragging in their ten pet peeves about _societal_ disadvantages, nearly all of which are very much open to debate. :dubious: I agree. Glad someone said it. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/44 "2005-12-15T16:28:38Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Men can answer questions about _inherent_ advantages without dragging in their ten pet peeves about _societal_ disadvantages I have to agree with the above, while > [@](#): > > nearly all of which are very much open to debate. :dubious: disagreeing with that claim. Yes, theoretically, anything is up for debate, but the examples that **FisherQueen** (Whom does the grail serve, anyway? ) mentioned are quite real examples of differences in society. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/45 "2005-12-15T16:32:06Z")
> [@](#): > > **JustAnotherGeek** said: > So how YOU doin? I thought we had already established that I am hornier than a ten-peckered owl… 😉 > [@](#): > > **FisherQueen** said: > Men can go on a first date without having to worry about being raped by their date. You worry about this? > [@](#): > > Men’s reproductive functions aren’t considered dirty. I’ve heard semen called disgusting before. Although, I think if they bled from their crotch for a week out of the month, it’d still be considered gross. > [@](#): > > If a man is assaulted, he can report it to the police without having to prove that he didn’t deserve to be assaulted. Unless he’s assaulted, or worse, raped by a woman in which case he will find it very difficult to be believed. > [@](#): > > Very few men are taught from their earliest childhood that their first duty is to graciously submit and obey. How many women in the US are taught that today? > [@](#): > > Men are not expected to wear shoes that hobble them so they can’t run away. I don’t think they’re expected to. Why they do, I can’t understand. I’ve never worn shoes that made it uncomfortable to walk or run. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/46 "2005-12-15T16:49:14Z")
Trying as best I can to stick to urely biological, and not social, advantages, I can come up with: Men, on the average, are stronger and faster than women. Women, by contrast, need less energy and also have a tendancy to store more fat, making them better at surviving in tough situations. I think I’ve seen a few studies that men tend to have better hand-eye coordination (not aht I’m a testament to that… 😛 ) Women have better concentration and notice details more. Men have better spatial reasoning. Women tend to be better with language and arts. (These last four are probably a product of one sex having a more/less developed/used right/left side of the brain.) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/47 "2005-12-15T16:50:33Z")
“Men can go on a first date without having to worry about being raped by their date.” – But women generally go on dates knowing whether consensual sex is going to happen, and also need not fear accusations of date rape Men can get promoted to management positions without fear that they’ll be rejected because ‘he’ll just get pregnant and quit anyway.’ – But they will never benefit from quota systems which assume as axiomatic that there are too few men in particular positions Men’s bodies are considered basically acceptable- they aren’t socially constrained to spend extra time every morning removing all body hair and repainting visible skin. – Tell my razor, for a start. Men’s reproductive functions aren’t considered dirty. – Heh. Male reproductive organs are considered extremely dirty. Man sees woman undressing - he’s a peeper. Woman sees man undressing - he’s an exhibitor. Men can fully participate in any church they choose to join. – Yes, I could become an archbishop tomorrow. I’ve no idea what male representation would be like in female-oriented religions… any takers? If a man is assaulted, he can report it to the police without having to prove that he didn’t deserve to be assaulted. – If a man is assaulted in his own home, it’s kinda likely that the police will throw him, and not the abusive spouse, in the slammer, Men see themselves represented widely on television, in movies, and in athletics. (There’s a comic strip character who refuses to watch any movie which doesn’t include a scene in which two female, named characters have a conversation about something other than a man. When I checked my video collection, I was horrified at how few such movies I could find.) – Men are widely represented as dorks, although not in athletics admittedly, but especially in chick-lit and -flicks Men are more than fairly represented in government, and can make laws protecting their interests. – When’s the last time anyone campaigned on policies intended to attract the male vote by favouring male interests? Very few men are taught from their earliest childhood that their first duty is to graciously submit and obey. – Very many men are taught from their earliest childhood that their first duty is to treat women with deference Men are not expected to wear shoes that hobble them so they can’t run away. – You left out the part about women being expected to wear skirts so they will be easier to rape :rolleyes: Debatable enough for you yet, **Scott Plaid**? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/48 "2005-12-15T17:08:25Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > “Men can go on a first date without having to worry about being raped by their date.” – But women generally go on dates knowing whether consensual sex is going to happen, and also need not fear accusations of date rape Which still doesn’t refute the fact that in general, date rape drugs are not used on men. > [@](#): > > Men can get promoted to management positions without fear that they’ll be rejected because ‘he’ll just get pregnant and quit anyway.’ – But they will never benefit from quota systems which assume as axiomatic that there are too few men in particular positions Which still doesn’t refute the fact that glass sealing exist, and are more prevalent than quota systems. > [@](#): > > Men’s bodies are considered basically acceptable- they aren’t socially constrained to spend extra time every morning removing all body hair and repainting visible skin. – Tell my razor, for a start. Male investment bankers: Get up in the morning, shave, (or not, depend on the existence of a beard), dress, leave. Maybe a swipe of a deodorant bar. Women investment bankers: Get up in the morning, shave legs, and maybe under the arms. Put on a hell of a lot of cosmetic items, and treatments. Dress. Leave. > [@](#): > > Men’s reproductive functions aren’t considered dirty. – Heh. Male reproductive organs are considered extremely dirty. Man sees woman undressing - he’s a peeper. Woman sees man undressing - he’s an exhibitor. Do you see women making derogatory jokes about cum? No. Do you see males making derogatory jokes about the various fluids that come from women. Yes. (A: So they won’t leave slime trails.) > [@](#): > > Men can fully participate in any church they choose to join. – Yes, I could become an archbishop tomorrow. I’ve no idea what male representation would be like in female-oriented religions… any takers? Yes, in your church. Not so in other churches. Also, last time I looked, wiccans worshiped a god and a goddess. > [@](#): > > If a man is assaulted, he can report it to the police without having to prove that he didn’t deserve to be assaulted. – If a man is assaulted in his own home, it’s kinda likely that the police will throw him, and not the abusive spouse, in the slammer, Wtf is that suppose to even mean? I think that’s enough. Anyway, if you think that the problems **FisherQueen** pointed out aren’t real, don’t list things which are bad, **but not as bad** as the disputed items, list _how_ the disputed items aren’t real! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/49 "2005-12-15T17:37:51Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > If a man is assaulted, he can report it to the police without having to prove that he didn’t deserve to be assaulted. If the assaulter is a woman, odds are she can do anything she wants to him, without receiving anything worse than counselling. > [@FisherQueen](#): > > Men see themselves represented widely on television, in movies, and in athletics. (There’s a comic strip character who refuses to watch any movie which doesn’t include a scene in which two female, named characters have a conversation about something other than a man. When I checked my video collection, I was horrified at how few such movies I could find.). Like **Malacandra** said, men tend to be shown as fools/idiots; I would add “scum” as well. > [@FisherQueen](#): > > Men are more than fairly represented in government, and can make laws protecting their interests. How many are simply the puppets of their wives ? Don’t confuse status with power. > [@FisherQueen](#): > > Very few men are taught from their earliest childhood that their first duty is to graciously submit and obey. We are often taught we are scum who deserve neither mercy, consideration or help. > [@FisherQueen](#): > > Men are not expected to wear shoes that hobble them so they can’t run away. Actually, women’s high heeled shoes were originally a means for wealthy women to show off the fact they didn’t need to do physical labor, like a slaveowner wearing all white to show he never did any dirty work. Before that, they were an attempt by one of the French kings to make himself taller ( he raised his heels a little; his court imitated it; he did it again, so did they…) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/50 "2005-12-15T18:23:31Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Men can fully participate in any church they choose to join. – Yes, I could become an archbishop tomorrow. I’ve no idea what male representation would be like in female-oriented religions… any takers? I don’t know if anyone here really wants to know, but there is great angst and debate among practitioners of many Goddess oriented neopagan religions about this very topic. Even though, as Scott says, most (but not all) Wiccans recognize a God and a Goddess, in actual practice, the Goddess is emphasized, sometimes to the exclusion of the God. Dianic Wiccans, for example, are limited to only women, and only worship a Goddess. In Wicca and other neopagan religions, Priestesses vastly outnumber Priests, and there is a general sentiment that women are more listened to and even more valued than men, although we talk a lot about equality. On the other hand, presenters and workshop leaders at neopagan festivals and conferences tend to be overwhelmingly male. Published scholars on neopaganism tend to be male, while pulpy “spellbook” authors tend to be female. It’s a very sensitive topic. Isaac Bonewits has a new book out called [The Pagan Man](http://www.neopagan.net/IB_Books.html) which addresses some of these issues. Certainly a culturally based issue, not an inherent gender difference. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/51 "2005-12-15T18:44:38Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > Men’s reproductive functions aren’t considered dirty. There are a couple of pit threads devoted to me that would disagree with this. I do see your point on the other ideas though. Women do have to worry about sexual assault more than men after they become independent adults. And women seem to wear more uncomfortable clothing. Plus in my view when a man (in a business situation) is attractive that is considered a plus, he may come across as more confident and likeable. But when a woman is attractive I think she may not be taken as seriously as a plain woman, the guys will be too busy fantasizing about her sexually to listen to her. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/52 "2005-12-15T19:24:06Z")
[If Men Could Menstuate](http://www.mum.org/ifmencou.htm) One of Gloria Steinen’s best pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/53 "2005-12-15T20:30:31Z")
OK so leaving the SOCIETAL issues for others to figure out… Women are physically able to conceive and bear children. In my opinion, an extremely positive and wondrous experience that males cannot experience. I would not trade having felt my daughter kick and poke me from the inside for having one of those silly hangy things between the legs, evah! ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/54 "2005-12-16T00:52:26Z")
Funny… to me that’s one of the down sides to being female, that whole gestation thing. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/55 "2005-12-16T01:33:00Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Funny… to me that’s one of the down sides to being female, that whole gestation thing. Which is a major problem behind any attempt to claim one gender is superior. How can someone plausibly do that, when we can’t even agree on what features are better ? Not that it doesn’t stop people from trying. My answer to the question “Is it better to be male or female ?”, is that it’s unanswerable, as it’s incomplete. Unless you provide me with a standard to judge by, I can’t provide an answer. As far as whether or not I personally prefer being male or female, I don’t much care. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/56 "2005-12-16T01:44:26Z")
Men have dicks. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/57 "2005-12-16T01:47:56Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Men have dicks. Reminds me of an old joke. Little Boy pulls out his penis : “I’m better than you, because I have one of these and you don’t !” Little Girl pulls up dress : “Well, I have one of _these_, and with it, I can get as many of _those_ as I want !” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192/58 "2005-12-16T02:44:13Z")
I can velcro my tuque to my stubble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-inherent-advantage-in-being-a-male-over-being-a-female-or-vice-versa/335192.md?page=2)