Transcript The Real Difference Between Boys and Girls

The Real Difference
Between Boys and Girls
By: Julie Clerge
The Brain
Neurology
• Female brains are more compact than male
brains in that, though smaller, they are more
densely packed with neurons, particularly in the
region responsible for language. Also, females
have language functions evenly distributed in
both cerebral hemispheres.
• While in males, they are more concentrated in
the left hemisphere. This puts males more at risk
for language disorders like dyslexia
Communication
• Deborah Tannen’s studies found these gender differences in
communication styles:
• Men tend to talk more than women in public situations, but
women tend to talk more than men at home.
• Females are more inclined to face each other and make eye
contact when talking, while males are more likely to look
away from each other.
• Boys tend to jump from topic to topic, but girls tend to talk at
length about one topic.
• When listening, women make more noises such as “mmhmm” and “uh-huh”, while men are more likely to listen
silently.
• Women are inclined to express agreement and support, while
men are more inclined to debate.
Social Development
Popular Misconceptions
• “Girls often get a bad rap for gossiping,
forming cliques, and other aggressive
social behavior, as characterized in the
popular movie Mean Girls.
• Boys, meanwhile, are known for physically
aggressive behavior, such as hitting”
TRUTH OF THE MATTER
• “These attitudes may be at least partly
unfounded. While boys are indeed more
physically aggressive, girls and boys are equally
guilty of aggressive social behavior, according to
the report published in Child Development.”
• The indirect aggression that girls tend to use
can be just as damaging, if not more damaging
than the direct aggression boys may use.
Friendship
•
•
When engaged in social activities such as recess, boys
and girls have very different ways of interrelating. Boys
prefer large groups that often have one or two children
in charge. This may be due to the boys' need to
maintain personal space between themselves and
friends and to conceal their feelings
Whereas girls enjoy personal connections in smaller
groupings with special importance placed on a best
friend.. Girls share their emotions with close friends and
thrive on these warm personal relationships
How to Protect our Youth
Important Protective Factors
for All Students
• Positive adult relationships
• Engagement and competence in pro-social
activities
• Taking leadership roles
• QUANITY o resource/protective factors
 For boys and girls of all cultural background/ethnicity
Most Important Protective
Factors for Girls
•
•
•
•
Support from a caring adult
Success in school
Family and school connectedness
“Religion”
 Most effective for younger adolescences
NOW WHAT DOES
THESE “RANDOM”
FACTS HAVE TO DO
WITH ANYTHING?!!!
I’m glad you asked….
• Well, if we understand the differences
between the way boys and girls
understand different aspects of life, it
allows us to aid them in a way that is
beneficial for them. Which allows us to do
our job more effectively….
Sources
Websites
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http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Development/The-Real-Difference-Between-Boys-andGirls
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=92733
Adolescent Girls’ Brain and Psychosocial Development Workshop (Penny Haney Ph.D.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences#Neurology
http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/wiki/Social_differences_in_gender_roles--Part_2_%28A12%29