The Myth of Gender Plasticity
Recently a lot has been written to argue against the work of Dr’s. Michael Gurian and Leonard Sax about the negative environment which now exist for American males (especially black American males). No matter what theories of gender plasticity tell you the following statement can’t be argued.
Educational programs have been designed away from curriculum which incorporated accepted differences in the male and female courses. Although, these actions were taken with the best of motives (Title IX) they have had a devastating effect on the male population of our schools. - At four days of age, girls spend twice as much time as boys making and maintaining eye contact with care givers. Development of the visual cortex is apparent even at this early age.
- By four months of age, girls are more likely to be able to distinguish between a familiar individual and a stranger.
- Male babies are more likely to spend time visually tracking moving objects than girls.
- Girl babies are more likely to turn their gaze toward a caregiver who enters the room than boys.
- Girl babies focus intently on the words spoken by a care give and boys do not. This demonstrates the greater development of the brain centers connected to language in girls.
- Boys are more likely to use toys as leaning tools (banging on things, pulling off doll heads) than girls.
- Higher levels of oxytoxin in girls increase the likelihood girls will form bonds with toys and objects rather than using them as tools like boys.
Ignoring these truths are no less detrimental than ignoring the truth of fundamental human temperament differences.