Sociological Explanations Of Gender Differences

Research performed to examine whether gender differences exist and whether those differences are an evolutionary by-product or cultural by-product was explained through mate preferences in both men and women. Some features in choosing a mate are more important to men, and others are more important to women. Per research results, men value physical attractiveness more than women. Women are inclined to value higher socio-economic status and ambition in men than men in women. However, this does not mean that the opposite is not true, it just shows that there is a moderate gender difference in the values. This gender difference may have cultural influences in mate preferences, but it could also have some biological factors. The cultural influences stem from the history of different gender …show more content…
From this, it was “normal” for women not to work but not for men, therefore it is less desirable, or less characterized of men. For men who are financially established their preference in physical attractiveness is something they can afford to be picky about. Now that women’s employment rate is higher than in history, and many women are financially independent, the cultural view should predict a decrease in gender differences in mate favors. Results show that there are some cultural changes in mate favours but some differences still exist.
Another evidence that gender differences exist in sexual behaviour and attitudes is sexual desire. There are a few different explanations of gender differences in sexual desire. But for this paper I will focus mostly on evolutionary and cultural explanations. In regards to evolutionary explanations, biological differences among women and men imply sex differences in the quantity of offspring. Biologically, it is impossible for women and men to have the same number of offspring, because women can only have 20 offspring. Since a woman can have a baby every 9