The Problem with Men,
the Problem with Women:
How to Handle Your Frustrations with the Opposite Sex
by www.Sedona.com From day one, males and females are different creatures. If given the choice, baby girls will set their gaze on a face, rather than a mechanical mobile, while baby boys will look at the mobile. And a variety of studies indicate that within just one year, girls typically prefer playing with dolls and tea sets, while boys enjoy balls, guns, cars and trucks. As we get older, the differences remain, though they manifest in entirely different ways. Women generally have a need to nurture, to share personal experiences and communicate their feelings. Men, on the other hand, tend to be more analytical. They like to achieve goals and measure their self-worth by their career. Meanwhile, when it comes to handling stress, men tend to retreat until they come up with a solution, while women need support and communication during stressful times. That men and women are different in every important area – communication, emotions, finances, relationships, sex, work – is the cornerstone of many popular books, movies and plays. Their premise? We argue in relationships because it’s a “can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em” type of scenario. Men and women all over the world are odd couples just biding their time with one another until the whole mess gets figured out, and we finally learn how to live with the entirely different opposite sex. But what if it turned out that we’re not that different, after all? Are Men and Women More Similar Than We Think? A few startling studies have emerged that suggest men and women are more similar than they are different. "The big picture is that gender similarities are far more the rule than gender differences. The large differences are few and far between," says Janet Shibley Hyde, PhD, a professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin, in a WebMD article. As for differences that seem to hold up, men do tend to be physically stronger and more physically aggressive than women. Men are also more likely to interrupt conversations and use assertive language than women. But when it comes to communication and even sex, men and women are actually very alike, according to Hyde, who reviewed 124 studies on male-female psychological differences. "Beliefs in gender differences are very comfortable to people," Hyde tells WebMD. "It's convenient. Your marriage is in trouble, you go to the therapist, you're having communication problems, it's because she communicates differently than I do.” "Well, the research doesn't actually show huge gender differences in communication," Hyde continues. "It's not about one person being a man and one a woman. It's about trying to communicate better, which is hard work." How to Get Along With Members of the Opposite Sex in Your Life Whether men and women are fundamentally different or not, there’s no debating that sometimes it can be difficult to get along. The key to overcoming your frustrations is to focus not on your differences but on your similarities. “The more you allow yourself to recognize that members of the opposite sex are people just like you – but perhaps with a different perspective – the more you can enjoy and celebrate the differences and similarities instead of opposing them,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. Using The Sedona Method, you can learn how to release your negative stereotypes about the opposite sex and open yourself to the things you share. This Method can help you free yourself and your partner from reiterating old battles, enabling you both to be more easily understood -- and to share open and satisfying communication. The Sedona Method will show you how to clear out the negativity that may be holding your relationship back so the underlying love can shine through. “As you let go using The Sedona Method,” Dwoskin says, “you will also find that you are more attractive to the opposite sex because you are letting go of your need and uncovering your love. The love that you bring to a relationship is what makes it sing.”
Sources
The Economist
MedicineNet.com
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