On average, who do you believe is more obedient, trusting or deferential toward authority? Men or Women?

Question

Amongst the average citizen, which of the two sexes is more questioning of supposedly credible individuals, institutions and concepts? Who takes less cues from society and endeavours to explore an issue with greater depth? Who displays greater confidence in trusting their own findings? Who is less impressionable? Why do you believe this is?

A suggestion in addressing this question might be to look at the degree to which one's self, friends, colleagues, relatives and the population at large, of both sexes, opinions and views diverge from convention the most. Who conforms the least?

I've phrased the question in a number of ways, so can people please stipulate when choosing a sex, whether they are more conformist or less conformist.

Answer 1

Women

Answer 2

Men conform less obviously simply because they allow their emotions to supercede their judgement.

Men are more likely to feel confronted AND to act on those feelings when faced with conflict (even in the face of legal charges).

In a sense women may take more cues from society in that they are more willing to consider the long term gain from "towing the line," as it were, as opposed to the short term gain by fighting for ones immediate sense of pride without full consideration of the consequences.

You ask who makes more endeavors to explore an issue in greater depth. On the surface I'd argue women. It's easy enough to put on a brave face and take a few hits to prove one is unwilling to back down from ones opinion. Women, whether genetically or by millennia of oppression and a cultural view that still expects us to be polite, kind and forgiving, no matter what, need to consider whether each individual battle will be worth the effort.

I've seen a lot of men get extra charges added onto a driving citation by being confrontational about it, even if they were speeding or did ignore a stop sign. I've seen plenty of women get off with warnings simply for admitting their fault and being polite and respectful with the officer (and, no, never for flirting with the officer or crying, or whatever).

I've seen guys get into bar room brawls over girls, seats, games, whatever, many times but few to no girls do the same. I'm quite certain no issue regarding women, whose seat is which, or which team is best will ever be determined by beating each other.

Still, no man, no matter how physically violent, can ever compare to the way women can cut both other women and men emotionally. When you can't compete in strength you learn how to hurt someone by other means. Sticks and stones may well break bones but bones heal easily. Words can touch the soul and cause far worse wounds.

In reality I think both men and women are as impressionable. Men in that they learn to believe they must be tough and defend their opinions to unreasonable degrees, and women because they learn how to manipulate the emotions of others to get what they need.

In the end I think we both need to look to address conflicts in ways that can help us all rather than looking for our own gain, be it long or short term. We are both selfish and absurdly influenced by society when all we care about is whether we are right or wrong.

Answer 3

In general I would have to say women are less obedient to authority...but it's pretty close!

Answer 4

women