Business World Looking at Gender Differences

Interesting differences with business.  Perhaps this is a continuation of stereotypical factors and socialization.  But, multiple fields are starting to examine or at least considered gendered "data" as a way to better understand important practices and behaviors.  Educators should do the same to better understand what is happening within their classroom, school and district.
http://m.smartplanet.com/blog/business-brains/female-entrepreneurs-more-likely-to-think-social/23330

Neuroimaging and Gender Difference - Vitual Issue

An incredible number of recent studies on gender differences in all sorts of areas, including children:

I. Studies using blood flow based measure

Sex differences in the medial temporal lobe during encoding and recognition of pseudowords and abstract designs


Gender differences in partial-volume corrected brain perfusion using brain MRI in healthy children

The role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling gender-stereotypical associations: A TMS investigation

Boys do it the right way: Sex-dependent amygdala lateralization during face processing in adolescents

Hemisphere- and gender-related differences in small-world brain networks: A resting-state functional MRI study

The role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling gender-stereotypical associations: A TMS investigation

II. Studies dealing with anatomical structures

Regional variation, hemispheric asymmetries and gender differences in pericortical white

A critical re-examination of sexual dimorphism in the corpus callosum microstructure

Men and women are different: Diffusion tensor imaging reveals sexual dimorphism in the microstructure of the thalamus, corpus callosum and cingulum

Beyond age and gender: Relationships between cortical and subcortical brain volume and cognitive-motor abilities in school-age children

Age- and gender-related changes in the normal human brain using hybrid diffusion imaging (HYDI)

The link between callosal thickness and intelligence in healthy children and

Genetics of white matter development: A DTI study of 705 twins and their siblings aged 12 to 29

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Medicine and Gender Gaps

The medical community seems to be very comfortable with embracing gendered data and possible gendered treatments, "This landmark study shows that gender-specific dosing is desperately needed in modern medicine" ... Hopefully educators will take gender seriously soon.

Stress, Risk, and Gender Differences

Another article about the impact of stress.
http://www.thestar.com/mobile/living/article/1139171--stress-changes-the-way-men-and-women-assess-risk

Gender Differences in Addiction

A short article about a study on Areas of the brain that react differently, especially with the issue of stress with women. From the summary,
"The results showed that when women were confronted with stressful situations, there was high activity in the part of the brain associated with craving and addiction. But for men, activity in that particular region of the brain was heightened more when they were presented with cues associated with drugs."
This can certainly impact treatment plans for men and women; can it also be insightful perhaps for educators? Are there stressful situations within schools and classrooms? Might this lead to different reactions for boys and girls? Might there be triggers boys that lead to ritual behaviors that are unwanted (or even wanted)?

Study on Memory

An article discusses gender differences in emotional memory. The bottom line for this study is that women remember pleasant images and men repulsive images. Asnwith any report, don't just change your lesson plans too quickly, but consider while you teach and watch your students. At minimum, there should always be differentiated content, I this case visuals to support remembering ideas.

Study on Gender Differences in Personality

A very interesting study that argues for a different way to understand gender differences. They claim that there might be small individual specific differences, but when put together these small differences translate into large differences. From their abstract, "The idea that there are only minor differences between the personality profiles of males and females should be rejected as based on inadequate methodology."

At the link, you will find the article as well as comments, including on my Hyde (and a response from the authors.)

Thoughts on Gendered Marketing

Sam Sommers has a post hear on marketing, gender, and the idea of boys v. Girls. It is a great read because it raises it raises important points. The key, I think, is that gender is a part of what we do. He enter the discussion about biological gender differences a bit. As educators we should use the idea or knowledge of gender differences to limit students, but provide opportunities. It is interesting that he cites single gender testing rooms as a way to balance test scores. Again, gender is an influential power.

New Study on Gender Gap in Math - it doesn't exist

The new study from University of Wisconsin looks at international data and claims,

"In summary, we conclude that gender equity and other sociocultural factors, not national income, school type, or religion per se, are the primary determinants of mathematics performance at all levels for both boys and girls. Our findings are consistent with the gender stratified hypothesis, but not with the greater male variability, gap due to inequity, single-gender classroom, or Muslim culture hypotheses."

It is important to look at their breakdown of data, it is extensive. It does discuss the status of gender gap within the United States and links it to the lacks of overall gender equality.

Now, if someone would do this type of study with international reading scores.

Gender Differences in Heart Disease

USA Today reports a study that shows that There are differences in heart related diseases. It seems to be broadly accepted and will be used to prescribe appropriate tests for men and women. Seems like differentiation to me.

Objects through space

From Shea at WSJ ... I still have to check the source, but more information on some basic differences that could impact classroom interactions.

From his column

Gender: Why Boys Keep Trucking

Innate fascination with propulsive motion may explain why boys gravitate to toys that move, like trucks.

After watching videos of adults cradling and striking balloons, male but not female 6-to-9-month-olds began to hit balloons more often. This suggests that males have an innate fascination with "propulsive movement," researchers say.

After getting acquainted with a toy balloon, 45 children—too young to label themselves by gender—watched split-screen video clips: On one side, a man or woman cradled a balloon; on the other, the same man or woman hit the balloon.

Boys tended to watch the people striking balloons more than girls did. After watching, they batted their own balloons more than before, while girls didn't change behavior.

There were no sex differences in how children handled the balloons before the videos started and no evidence that the parents of boys had promoted this play style.

If an innate fascination with propulsive motion exists, it may explain why boys gravitate to toys that move, such as trucks, without parental encouragement, researchers said.

"Male More Than Female Infants Imitate Propulsive Motion," Joyce F. Benenson, Robert Tennyson and Richard W. Wrangham, Cognition (November)

Stress and Voice

Researchers surprisingly found a gender differences in stress responses during a study dealing with voice responses. Again, differences seem to be around us, what will educators do with them in the classroom. The issue of stress is critically important in the classroom.

Conference on Women, Aging and the Brain

Yes, a conference, October 18, 2011, focusing on women, aging and the brain.  Again, it amazes me that other professions are focusing on gendered issues, but when educators try to, we are called old-fashioned, sexists, or are trying to stereotype.

Hormones Impact Memory - Study

A study on how hormones from birth control pills affect memory in women.  One of the interesting parts is that Larry Cahill is quoted.  He has done much work in the areas of sex-differences and is often referenced by both pro and anti sex-difference groups as having a thorough and balanced position.
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/News/2011/09/Birth-Control-Pills-Affect-Memory/

Study from Columbia and Sweden on Competitiveness and Risk Tasking

A study that finds some differences in competitiveness and competition in some areas and not in others.

http://poliecon.com/2011/09/09/gender-differences-in-competitiveness-and-risk-taking-comparing-children-in-colombia-and-sweden-2/

Gender Difference with Emotions and Memory

Recent research that claims that men and women experience and remember negative emotion events differently.  This can impact the classroom when reading a text, viewing a video, or showing video clips and then having  a discussion, completing an assignment, or later taking a test.  Teachers need to consider the types of questions asked and the details desired.

Gender and Mental Illnesses

This article looks at how gender and mental illness intersect.  It is interesting that other professions are considering how gender impacts their field and what can be learned from this.  However, in education, there is great controversy over the application of gender to benefit classroom instruction and interaction with students due to potential stereotyping.
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/mental-illness.aspx

Gender and Alcohol

Another article about the intersection of gender and the medical community - in this case alcohol.  Better understanding how gender can impact our lives can help the variety of professions best meet needs.  Or is this stereotyping?
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20110815/genes-play-role-in-how-alcohol-affects-men-and-women

Note Taking and Gender Differences

Dissertation on gender differences and note taking and related performance.
From the abstract:
Results indicated that females recorded more information in notes and recall than males. Females also performed significantly better on measures of transcription fluency, working memory, verbal ability, and conscientiousness.
Perhaps there is a combination of expectations, seriousness toward schooling, and/or a potential female tendency to gather more details.  Perhaps we need to be sure to make graphic organizers available for all students, especially males?
http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:131971

Gender Differences and Physics

A Study that is being presented at the ASQ STEM Conference states this in the blurb:

The conclusion of the study is that the contexts in which physics questions are presented can have an effect on student response, and can show gender differentiation. To encourage participation of all students, instructors need to be aware of the contexts in which they present their material.

* There is no link to the actual study at this time.  If you find it, please reply and post.