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 “mm-hmm” 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

Websites1. http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Development/The-Real-Difference-Between-Boys-and-

Girls

2. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=92733

3. Adolescent Girls’ Brain and Psychosocial Development Workshop (Penny Haney Ph.D.)

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences#Neurology

5. http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/wiki/Social_differences_in_gender_roles--Part_2_%28A12%29