Today, we would like to talk about the differences between men and women. You might say that you’ve known about these differences for your entire life, but it’s not that simple. We are sure that we’ll be able to highlight a few facts you’ve never heard of before. And in the bonus section, you’ll find out where the fashion for high heels came from.
The length of fingers
Let’s conduct a short experiment. Place your hand on a flat surface and compare the length of your index and ring fingers. In general, in women, the index finger is longer. In men, the ring finger is longer. How can this be explained?
According to scientists, the length of these fingers depends on the level of male and female hormones that affect the fetus in the womb. So, the reason why the ring finger is longer than the index finger in men is testosterone.
The skin on the heels
Scientists have found out that women’s skin is more hydrated in the décolleté area and on the hands. Only the skin on their heels is dryer than that of men. So, in equal conditions, men’s heels will be smoother.
Breast
You might think, “Why would a man need nipples?” It might sound strange but every person was initially female. When an embryo begins to develop in the womb, the male Y chromosome doesn’t immediately start working.
During the first 5-6 weeks, development occurs only under the influence of the X chromosome, so the nipples have enough time to form. If the embryo is male, the Y chromosome “turns on” after this period of time, and a boy is formed.
Men can even produce milk. Lactation is activated under special conditions, for example, it may appear during treatment with the hormone prolactin.
Vision
Women are better at seeing colors, but men are good at tracking fast-moving objects. This is probably linked to our hunter-gatherer past when men were hunters and women were gatherers.
For example, an orange may appear redder to a man than to a woman. The grass is almost always greener for women because green objects appear more yellow to men.
Gaining muscle mass
Many women have to go to the gym regularly to have a toned body, while a man can just lift a barbell a couple of times to get a 6 pack. So, what is the “ingredient” responsible for muscle development? If you guessed testosterone, you’re right.
In women, it is also produced, but in much smaller quantities. So, it is easier and faster for men to gain muscle mass.
Hair loss
Going bald after the age of 50 is typical for around half of men (and for a quarter of women too). The reason for this is a widespread hereditary disease, androgenetic alopecia, which is also called “male pattern baldness.” Due to this condition, hair follicles shrink, and hair becomes thinner and shorter, and eventually disappears.
Follicle shrinkage can be caused by sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone, a by-product of testosterone. This means that the more muscle-building hormone a man has, the more likely it is that he will become bald.
Adam’s apple
Both men and women have an Adam’s apple, but it’s more prominent in men. Why? The Adam’s apple is the cartilage that protects our vocal cords. It is formed during puberty. Since adult men have larger vocal cords, their Adam’s apple is also more prominent.
By the way, the larger the Adam’s apple, the deeper the voice. There is a theory that our ancestors needed a low voice in order to scare away predators.
Brain size
A man’s brain is larger than that of a woman, but this doesn’t mean that men are intellectually superior to women. Also, some parts of the brain in both sexes are different in size and work differently. For example, the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and creating memories, is larger in women. And the amygdala, which is associated with experiencing emotions and remembering them, is larger in men.
Scientists conducted an experiment: they showed the subjects a video so that they could recall some personal experiences. It turned out that in men, activity was observed only in the right amygdala, and in women, only in the left one.
Beard
At first glance, it might seem that a beard doesn’t provide any benefits. So, why does it grow? There is a theory that the jawline looks more massive thanks to a beard, so its wearer looks stronger and more masculine. Perhaps, our female ancestors tended to choose men with a thick beard as their partners because they thought they would produce healthy offspring with them.
Bonus: Heels
Nowadays, high heels are one of the symbols of femininity, aren’t they? However, in the 17th century, Persian riders used to wear one-inch heels. And since owning horses was a symbol of wealth, heeled shoes also came to signify money and power. The Persians then brought their fashion to Europe.
The French king Louis XIV became a big fan of heels. He even issued a decree according to which only nobles were allowed to wear heels. The higher and redder the heel was, the more powerful the wearer was.
The Sun King only allowed those who he favored the most to wear red heels. But since the 18th century, heels have become a purely feminine attribute, although this didn’t stop rock stars like David Bowie and The Beatles from wearing them.
Which facts mentioned in this article were new to you? Tell us in the comments below.
Preview photo credit 16704029 / Pixabay
What You See First Unveils the Secrets of Your Character
It would seem logical that we’d be the ones to know ourselves the best. Yet, life has a peculiar way of springing surprises on us. Every now and then, we stumble upon unknown aspects of our character, taking us by complete surprise. Now, we’ve prepared a fun, visual test for you. Who knows? You might just uncover new facets of yourself that were hidden until now. Enjoy this journey of self-discovery!
What did you see first?
1.
- Frog: You are very honest and straightforward while communicating with other people. You are self-assured and expect everyone else to treat you in the same manner.
- Horse: You aren’t known for your impulsiveness, but on the contrary, you over-analyze everything. That’s because you prefer to see things for yourself and not let others guide you.
2.
- The lock: You love to explore what you don’t know, learn new things, and get out of your comfort zone. You may be interested in someone, so be sure to talk to that person.
- The crying figure: You need to pay more attention to your feelings and listen to your wishes. At the same time, you need time to relax and clear your mind.
3.
- The face: You are a social person and curious about the lives of others. For you, everything is unique and interesting. You pay attention to what is, instead of the details.
- The fish: You are happy with your life. You believe in luck and a happy future. For you, the glass is always half full and details are very important to you.
4.
- An open door: You are ready for changes and are going in the right direction. You face the future without fear but rather, excitement. You are a source of inspiration for others.
- The musical note: Expressing yourself is important to you. You feel you have something important to share with the world. Don’t look back and take risks.
5.
- A car: The world is full of mysteries to you. It is also made of many different things that always stimulate your imagination.
- A person with binoculars: You are nice to others, and are not critical of them or yourself.
- The letter “A”: Your mood swings are real, but not extreme. You can go from happy to sad. Remember to balance life and work.
6.
- A crocodile: Your life is full of many colors and you have a creative approach to everything.
- Mountains and water: You are neither very conventional nor very individualistic. You are usually optimistic and tend to be constructive.
- People on a boat: You are sociable and get along well with others. You are adventurous and adapt easily to social situations.
7.
- Rabbit: You are more of a technical person than a caring one because the left hemisphere of your brain is dominant.
- Duck: In this case, the right hemisphere of your brain dominates the left, so you are very “human” when it comes to your personality.
Our childhood greatly influences our character and behavior. Here are several parenting decisions people don’t realize can have a domino effect.
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