Gender Matters by Leonard Sax

        After reading Boys Adrift, I read Gender Matters, also by Leonard Sax. Gender Matters was written before Boys Adrift, but I happened to hear about that one first. I’m glad I did read Boys Adrift first because it is more alarming and attention getting than Gender Matters. However, this book provides more evidence for the differences between boys and girls and how that affects the way children react to subject matter and how they can best learn different types of material.
        In Boys Adrift, Sax’s focus is on boys and he largely ignores girls, though he does mention that fact is not because girls do not have problems in the educational system. Gender Matters presents more hard data on gender differences and makes recommendations on how parents and teachers can or need to respond in regard to raising and educating children.
        Examples include the sight and hearing differences between males and females mentioned in the Boys Adrift post. Another example cited it the common male characteristic among primates for rough and tumble play among primates. This kind of play is commonly discouraged in our society and reflected in our educational systems with the result that games such as dodge ball and similar rough or dangerous activities (teeter-totters, swings, and slides) remove a necessary outlet for the aggressive tendencies of boys. Males that are not allowed rough and tumble behavior among primates have a tendency to produce brutal behavior later. The rough and tumble activities of friends appears to teach them rules of fair play that instills boundaries for the activities of adult activity. He says that our efforts to create a more soft and gentle boy may result in more aggressive and brutal activities in adults. Sax cites examples and research to support these conclusions.
        The feminist theory of our times lead us to believe that gender differences are minimal and largely taught. The foundation of Sax’s theories is founded in research that demonstrates the differences in the ‘hard wiring’ of the brains between boys and girls. As an indirect result, Sax believes the modern gender philosophy is driving a trend to drug both boys and girls; boys with amphetamine stimulants such as the Ritalin family of drugs and antidepressants for girls.
        In summary, a very thought provoking book well worth reading.