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Hmmm, I'll have to think about this.

Two observed events, nature v nurture?, you decide.

First; large duvet laid on floor with eight babies (approx 5 months old) laid on it face up, feet towards mums.  Girls laid quietly watching, boys arms and legs all over the place in constant movement.

Second; Easter egg hunt in my front room (approx age 5 years old).  To allow for lack of space divided party goers into girls and boys.  Girls first,  hunt all over room and find the eggs. Boys, cursory look round whilst stood in middle of room and then general announcement - can't find them.

I used to have birthday parties at my house for up to 20 children - lots of sweets and snacks, open the patio doors onto a garden full of toys and just let them run whilst the Mums and Dads chilled chatting.

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Hi Cathy - thanks for comment  

Yes, nature / nurture - a very good point:

Humans seem to be the only creatures on the planet where the innate differences between the male and female of the species are swept aside in favour of a universal model. Nobody teaches (i.e.) a male lion to be a bit of a lazy so and so who occasionally does a bit of roaring and fighting or a lioness the role of 'dinner-lady' - they just naturally assume those roles as they grow out of adolescence and testosterone or oestrogen kicks in.

Moving a bit closer to home, nobody teaches female chimpanzees to be submissive (and often very manipulative and unfaithful) members of the dominant male's harem, nor that dominant male how to be a, erm, dominant male - it just happens! Flipping that over too, there are, in the animal kingdom, some male/female partnerships where the male appears the more nurturing (penguins and seahorses come to mind) and that again comes to them entirely naturally - the female doesn't 'train him up' to be a good dad, and he doesn't have to struggle to gain access to the kids from a mum who is perhaps quite protective of her maternal role!

My own take is pretty much the one expressed above: I think men and women both have wonderful things to bring to the table, and the crying shame of it all is that we can't meet in the middle more effectively, showing mutual respect and admiration for the skill sets of the other. It's not a question of 'better' or 'worse' it is a question of 'different', and I think if we could acknowledge that simple fact without making silly, petty value judgements about the nature of the differences we would all be better off.

:D

PS: Sorry for the extra blog this week and the Desmond Morris lecture!

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