Researcher finds gender stereotypes to be accurate, part of nature

Gender stereotypes?such as the belief that men never help out around the house and women gossip?are generally true, David Geary, a psychology professor at the University of Missouri?Columbia, concludes after reviewing more than 1,200 studies by psychologists, biologists and anthropologists.

These stereotypical behaviors are strongly influenced by nature, Geary says, and rooted in the techniques humans use to attract mates and compete with members of the same sex.

Geary recognizes that his findings may offend some people, but he says an extensive review of studies finds that many stereotypes are accurate.

"Over the course of evolution, these stereotypes have resulted due to strategies used by males and females to attract mates," he says. "Men and women use certain sexual strategies in order to reproduce, and they are essential to our mating patterns."

Geary?s findings are published in a new APA book entitled "Male, Female: The Evolution of Human Sex Differences."

The sexual strategies men and women use in their drive to procreate cause many of the stereotypical sex differences in males and females, including physical attributes and development, play patterns, social behavior and development, parenting interests, motivational and emotional patterns, cognitive abilities, and brain structure and functions.

For example, men from around the world compete for social dominance and cultural success. Men who achieve cultural success have more mating opportunities and, in most cultures, more children.

However, Geary says, because males are competing for success, they spend more time away from home and are less involved with raising the children.

Women, on the other hand, compete for males that have cultural success. Research shows that women gossip about, spread rumors about and shun potential competitors, Geary says.

Geary?s research also shows that these stereotypes are evident early in life. The study indicates that girls practice parenting more often than boys do when they play because as adults they invest more time in the well-being of their children than do their husbands.

"Girls play with dolls more than boys, and it has nothing to do with Barbie, television ads or gender stereotypes and has everything to do with human nature and the best interests of women," Geary says.