Author(s): James F Welles
Women have been universally and eternally victimized by stereotyping to the degree that 400 years ago, no less of an expert on females than Cardinal de Richelieu concluded that “Intellect in a woman is unbecoming” [1,2].
It is alleged that the female psyche has somehow been permanently shaped by the oft noted ability of women to bear children. It may well be that there is something to this for mothers (who still do usually tend to be female) who spend more than 24 hours a day in the presence of children. Anyone subjected to such a situation might have to sacrifice something to emotional stability, and it may be a bit of logic and sanity.
Romans thought women compensated for their physical weakness through treachery and secrecy with poison thought to be the weapon of choice [3]. Recent research indicates there are real differences between male and female brains, so there may well be a special brand of feminine stupidity. However, before we venture too far into the unchartered domain of comparative idiocy, let us indulge in a bit of diplomacy and allow that the two sexes are, in their own aggravating ways, equally stupid or at least appear to be so to the advocates of the presumably equal other [4]. That said, we must allow the “Duh moment” usually goes to a thickheaded male‑is there any other kind?-who comes to a belated realization when he informs the woman he has been living with for X years he is moving out, she bursts into tears. On the other hand, garrulous women have difficulty saying “I love you” in the language of their choice: they show it but cannot say it.
A. As psychologist Justin Timberlake observed when reflecting on his fling with Cameron Diaz: “I learnt a lot....But I’m still a man, so I have some kind of learning disability.” As an inducer of stupidity, sex narrows the focus of those involved to a single-minded pursuit of self-gratification, (Montaigne. 428.) so on this one let us give an edge to men. (Lendram et al. BMJ 2014, 349: g7094) Clearly the institution of marriage is a miserable failure in serving the sex urges of overwhelming numbers of people‑ especially single males and spouses. (Everleigh sisters.) Marriage should be a child rearing but not necessarily sexual institution. Marry for children but, like the anci-ent Greeks stay open on sex and sex partners: Forsaking most others should be enough and usually is. *Btw is it not odd that free sex is legal, but prostitution is a crime? Sex is the only thing for which one cannot charge but can give away. [During prohibition, the manufacture, trans-portation or sale of alcohol was illegal but one could give it away or buy it and drink it]. *As Benny Franklin advised “Keep your eyes open before marriage and half-closed afterwards. (Poor Richard. 6/1/1738.)
B. One of the lesser known reform organization was the Female Re-trenchment Society, which defended women against the temptations of tea, coffee, rich cake, pastry, preserves, snuff and tobacco as well as wine and cordials. (Phillips, K. The Coursins’ War. Basic Books 1999. p358.)
Nevertheless, primarily as mothers, women established themselves as morally superior to men in being more loving, caring a responsive to the needs of the weak. Beyond that, women make better listeners police people, doctors, drivers, gamblers, spies, world leaders, beer tasters, hedge fund managers and just about everything else-e.g., mothers‑than men [5-7]. It is, in fact, difficult to find something other than 400 lb bench presses in which men excel: maybe cooking, the great chefs being male and perhaps chess. The determining factor appears to be opportunity: When given a chance, women seem to excel in every category in which intellect is a factor. The inferiority of women in matters of physical strength when human culture was beginning apparently led males to slight them in all other respects up to now.
Let me be the first to say it: All objective evidence indicates that the female brain is superior to that of the male. Only when physical strength is a factor should masculinity be considered a positive attribute, and as cyberculture evolves that should become less and less significant.
