[independentmind]

Oh, so men are more interested in some subjects than women are. Seems to me that was not my question, but I'll rephrase it.

Do you think that men, in general, have a natural aptitude for some subjects which is superior to that of most women for the same subjects?

You are, of course, aware that there are many recent studies which claim to prove this?

(I won't call the studies scientific, lest some pompous ass grill me on my qualificiations to even use the word.)

[Lorianne]

No. You cannot have an "aptitude" for something that holds no interest for you. For example, I would be a very bad brain surgeon, not because I'm a woman, but because I have absolutely no interest in medicine, surgery, blood, etc.

But I have a great interest in architecture and am a quite good architect. Being a woman neither hinders nor helps my ability in this field. It is all due to natural interest and natural aspiration in this one particular field and has nothing to do with gender.

Now there are some occupations where one's sex may work for you or against you. For example, female gynecologists may have an edge over male gynecologists simply because she has the same point of reference. I don't think one gender is particularly better suited to be gynecologists, but females may have a small advantage in perspective. (Likewise male urologists over female urologists).

And of course any work which requires great physical strength would naturally favor males (in general).

But in general I think people are best suited to occupations in which they have an abiding interest and aspiration. Not all tall people are basketball players, even if they could be trained be. Only the ones who are very interested in basketball, and are tall, end up being the good players.

There are plenty of people who could become capable lawyers. They have the brains and could probably make a decent career out of lawyering. But they have zero interest in law, so, instead, they do what they are interested in and are probably better at that than they would be as lawyers.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Do you think that men, in general, have a natural aptitude for some subjects which is superior to that of most women for the same subjects?

Hunting and protecting property comes to mind. Men suck at gathering. I get nauseated in Toys'R'Us, Walmarts, and the like.

I even observe this in my dogs. On a walk, the male looks down the street to see what’s about as if to spot a meal on the foot or watch for an approaching threat. The female just checks the trash cans as if she was shopping.