Are Men Smarter Than Women?

[Arian Maverick]

Although it is my personal opinion that this scientific study is thinly veiled sexism, I thought it would be interesting to construct a horary chart. For more details, please read the article Are Men are Smarter than Women? (http://sexuality.about.com/b/a/257816.htm) in the Sexuality (http://sexuality.about.com/) section of About.com (http://about.com/).

The site provides two additional links which I will include here: LiveScience.com - Men Smarter than Women, Scientist Claims (http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060908_brainy_men.html) and MSNBC.com - Are Men Smarter? (http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/07/3075.aspx)

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7523/aremensmarterthanwomenhorarychartid4.png (http://imageshack.us)

Arian Maverick

[Missa]

They are claiming that men are smarter than women based on what... 3.6 IQ points? Gosh... I'd understand it if it was 10 or so, but 3 and half? There is hardly any difference. Also, men's intelligence (according to some research I've seen) varies more than women's, so it is hard to draw conclusions from a certain small group of people.

I'm not good at interpreting horary charts (yet, I'm learning) but this is an interesting question anyway, I hope someone would take a closer look at the chart.

[Sanem]

Quick shoot-and-miss:

- Aries Ascendant, Mars ruler, fits nicely with sex theme in the question.

- Mars is in Libra, in 7th, so I figure this indicates balance: men and woman are equally smart.

- In 7th house, harmony between the sexes? They complete each other?

Btw, the question itself is Martian in nature (comparing, competing, who's the best, the smartest, the strongest...), making it a bias in itself, since woman are ruled by Venus and Libra (working together, completing each other...).

Venus, ruler of Libra, is in Virgo (daily work). Sun is in Virgo but on the cusp with Libra.

Both sexes work together? Women have a more active working role in modern society? Women need to work to form a balance with men?

How about: men and women are equally smart (Mars in Libra), but they need to work together (Mars in Libra in 7th, Venus in Virgo, Sun in Virgo on cusp with Libra).

[tikana]

Good answer!

[Radu]

Now, my challenging perspective:

Moon applying to Mars gives the short answer: men are just smarter. :D

BUT:

Mars (men) is weak in its exile and in the 7th house, disposed by Venus (women), so men aren't smart and besides they are controlled by women. But Mars is angular so at least they have the opportunity to impress with the little wits they've got.

Venus is weak in its fall, combust, and in the 6th house, so not only that so they aren't smart, but they are considered even less smart than they are (planet in its fall), they're way too often ignored (planet combust) and their field of activity isn't one that would allow them to show off (6th house).
Venus square Pluto - whenever they try to gain some more recognition, by feminist activities or so, they probably just cross the line and exaggerate.

My overall conclusion:

Neither men nor women are smart. We are all dumb.

[Francesca]

Well, I see some nice people are being diplomatic.

Personally, I think in a way we are comparing apples and oranges. Men have far fewer connections between left and right brain than women, so they are able to act/think quicker than women, I suspect. They are literally less in touch with emotion at the time of solving a problem- that's an advantage if a cave bear is trying to eat you.

However, in many other problem solving areas upon which evolution has placed high value, they are at a disadvantage. On the other hand I have lived in radical feminist communities where "feminist consensus" may take literally days of intensely wearing discussion to resolve an issue, and it can make you nuts. Perhaps there is a real physiological need for balance here.

Arian, what were you thinking, girl? What if M. Bey got ahold of your question? Perhaps this is the martial you blooming.

[Arian Maverick]

Arian, what were you thinking, girl? What if M. Bey got ahold of your question? Perhaps this is the martial you blooming.

Although I am not eagerly anticipating more forum drama, I think this is a valid question. Bring it on, I say! :D

Arian Maverick

[Missa]

AM, this is a bit off-topic, but I must say that you have some weird talent at getting Aries on your charts, this one has Aries ascendant. I've never got any of the rare rising signs on my horary charts, nor are there usually any planets/whatever in Aries. ;)

[Howl]

Now here's a thread I can't keep away from!

Personally, I think in a way we are comparing apples and oranges. Men have far fewer connections between left and right brain than women, so they are able to act/think quicker than women, I suspect. They are literally less in touch with emotion at the time of solving a problem- that's an advantage if a cave bear is trying to eat you

Fransesca, nice point. Hope you don't mind if I add my own spin to it :) This is a well known idea, and appears to explain many of the "common" differences between men and women. (Such as women lamenting about how men can seem to separate love (emotion) and sex (action), for example).

HOWEVER, while the "brain connection" thesis may be true for men and women as a group generalisation, it is not necessariy true that any one woman has her right/left brain more connected than any one man. There are plenty of "outliers" of both sexes. Picture a scattergraph, with most of the women collected on the "left/right brain connected side" and most of the men on the "left/right brain less connected side". There is a hazy fuzz of both men and women in the middle. We don't necessarily belong to either camp, in my opinion.

There are psychological tests to assess left/right brain connection. While I have limited faith in a paper test to assess the connection or integration of something as elusive as "rational" and "non-rational", or thought and emotion, the results do suggest wide variance for both sexes. I know, because I supposedly fall just on the "male" side of things, slightly more "rational" than the majority of women supposedly are and slightly more "non rational" than the majority of men supposedly are.

I like my place in the middle :p

Has anyone else taken a similar test? I wonder if there is any association between the balance of ying/yang energy in one's chart and the result one would get on an assessment like that. There does seem to be a correlation for me - I am astrologically chock full of yang energy :)

[Francesca]

Of course, I am aware of the "grey area" in any discussion of human traits. The same is true of many other comparisons/contrasts between members of the human race: sexual orientation, physical strength,the time it takes eyes to adjust to darkness, etc.. There are some people who lack the majority of left-right connections, and they are male,so-called idiot savants like the man "Rain Man" was written about. It is indeed an area full of fascinating phenomena.

I have never taken such a test, but I competed against much younger men to get into law school at age 50, so I'm confident of my own intellect.I also successfully competed against hundreds, maybe thousands of both sexes when I passed the Bar Exam, the second most difficult in the nation. However, I would never want it said that I think like a man. I just don't mind admitting I can play the game. I just refuse to be ashamed of being emotional. That is a male value judgement, and I say *****'em if they can't take a joke.

The point I was trying to make is that there are quantifiable differences in the way people think, and some of them may be physical in origin. Feminism is built in part on the recognition that the grey area exists, and individuality must be recognized and honored.

I remember when I first came to this site, I did some analysis on the homepage about male/female planets or placements. I was upset and emailed Radu because I came out all male, even though the majority of planets were feminine, like four in Cancer. C'est la vie!