Are Women More Emotional Than Men? Breaking Down Stereotypes
Aspects of popular media, social conditioning, and culture can perpetuate the idea that men are not as emotional as women. These messages generally do not have a strong basis in science but are often repeated, perhaps due to pervasive gender role expectations. These stereotypes are frequently challenged in the modern day, but those who have faced them their entire lives may struggle to understand how to move forward and what to believe. Looking at the science behind emotion and expression may be a helpful place to start.
Note that not everyone identifies with the labels of man or woman, and some people may experience unique relationships with their emotions as gender non-conforming or transgender individuals. Those raised with certain gender expectations may embrace new gender roles as they transition or move into adulthood, and these experiences can be challenging. When looking at the research below, keep in mind that the results were examined from the perspective of all participants being a “man” or “woman” as defined by self-divulge, so more research may be needed on how emotions can uniquely impact those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Stereotypes and gender roles in US culture
According to Stanford University, stereotypes can be defined as “widely held, simplified, and essentialist beliefs about a specific group,” especially related to identity and human behavior.
These views often seem to be factual because they can be prevalent within cultural groups, families, friendships, and relationships, and they can impact a significant part of society. Below are a few gender stereotypes that tend to be common in US culture:
- “Women are more emotional than men”
- “Men don’t cry”
- “Women are more affectionate and loving than men”
- “Being masculine means rejecting emotions”
- “Men must be a stable rock for women’s emotions”
- “Men are more likely to feel anger”
- “Women are more likely to feel sadness”
- “Men don’t emotionally attach to children like women because they lack a ‘maternal instinct’”
- “Women’s emotions are weak”
While these gender stereotypes can be seen as statistically false, they can be repeated so frequently that society often treats them as accurate. This can impact how children are raised, how people are treated in the workforce, and the types of careers commonly offered to each sex.
Although some people might seem happy following these gender roles, they can have harmful impacts on mental health, not only on an individual level but on society as a whole. Looking at the research behind these negative impacts can be a step toward making a change.
Are there biological gender differences in how women and men process and experience emotions?
People often repeat messages like “Women are from Venus and men are from Mars,” or “Men and women have different brains,” to try to explain the differences between the sexes’ social behaviors. These stereotypes do not seem to have much basis in science.
Researchers have not found any definitive, peer-reviewed evidence showing that the brains of men and women are biologically different outside of their sizes. According to evolutionary psychological science, men’s brains are 10% larger on average, but these size differences do not seem to be correlated with intelligence or emotion in any way.
Research shows that men and women appear to experience the same number of emotions. Women tend to be more likely to experience anxiety, which may lead to the assumption that they are more “emotional.” However, this result could come from the stigma men may face against seeking support for mental health concerns that are deemed “unmasculine.” It’s possible that the oppression women can face due to expectations to fulfill certain societal roles or have a specific emotional response may also play a role in anxiety levels.
Other research has shown that hormonal factors like ovarian hormones don’t seem to influence women’s emotional expression. Although hormones may influence emotions in some women, they are not necessarily a universal cause of emotional sensitivity.
What causes differences in emotional expression?
According to social psychology experts, differences in emotional expression are generally considered to be socially formed rather than biological. Below are several social impacts that can contribute to emotional and behavioral differences and attitudes toward emotion.
Stigma
Social stigma and social context can significantly impact how individuals learn to express their feelings. For example, men are often shamed by their peer groups for seeking support for mental health challenges or admitting that they are experiencing challenging emotions.
Women may also be shamed for their emotions, and they are sometimes referred to with terms like “dramatic,” “too emotional,” “sensitive,” and “weak.” They may be less likely to be considered for professional roles that are generally considered “masculine,” like executive positions, due to assumptions that they are too emotional or may have children that could take away from their professional abilities. Stigma often leads to individuals suppressing their emotions, which can worsen mental well-being.
Culture
Certain cultures may be more likely to enforce traditional gender roles due to complex intersectional factors and pressures. While this is not always the case, many people in Black communities have strong ties to their families and neighborhoods, who may judge them for seeking mental health support or admitting to strong emotional pain. Strict gender roles may be enforced regarding emotional expression, potentially due to a higher level of religiousness in BIPOC communities.
In addition, Asian communities often reject mental health challenges and emotional expressiveness. Talking about sadness, disappointment, or depression may be seen as “weakness” or a problem to overcome in isolation. If they fear rejection from family and cultural systems, Asian Americans may grow up to reject their emotions and those of their loved ones.
Cultural barriers to mental health support can lead to people not seeking mental healthcare, which can contribute to a higher risk of mental illness and suicide. For this reason, it can be essential that stigmas are challenged and that all people can access the help they deserve, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or cultural background.
How one is raised
Parents often enforce gender roles in the ways they treat their children, whether consciously or subconsciously. Consider the types of toys and clothing sold in stores and advertised as “normal” or “socially acceptable.”
For example, advertisements targeted toward boys may involve automobiles, military toys, toy guns, science kits, and clothing in colors like blue and brown. Meanwhile, advertisements for girls frequently involve dolls and stuffed animals, as well as clothing in pastel shades, particularly pink. Girls may be conditioned to have an empathetic and “motherly” nature and focus on physical beauty from a young age, which may lead to pressures to be perceived as attractive and to want to have children when they reach adulthood.
While it can be said that there tends to be more variance in the types of toys and clothing advertised to children today as compared to the past, many stereotypes tend to remain.
Psychological science reports that the toys with which children play can have a significant impact on how men and women form attitudes about gender and emotion. For example, women are often taught that physical attractiveness and usefulness should be strived for above all else, and men are often taught that aggression, violence, “masculine” body language, and productivity are more important than their emotions.
Mental and physical health
Research suggests that women may be two to three times more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.
The prevalence of these disorders may be due in part to the fact that approximately one in four women experiences severe physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime. Men can also experience abuse, with an estimated one in seven men being targets of abuse during their lifetime. However, reports of abuse from men may not always be taken seriously, and those who have been sexually abused might be told they were “lucky to get the attention.” For this reason, men may not seek treatment for the impacts of abuse, which can include PTSD.
The mental health challenges of gender non-conforming individuals
Those who identify as gender non-conforming or transgender may face unique mental health difficulties. Outside of having faced gender norms as a child, these individuals may have experienced the sense that they didn’t fit in with their peers, which can lead to isolation and loneliness.
In addition, gender dysphoria can involve unique emotions and difficulty with self-acceptance. Non-binary and transgender individuals may face oppression, transphobia, and societal barriers to mental healthcare that can lead to a high risk of mental illness. These unique factors can cause those with these identities to be perceived as more “emotional.”
Ways to challenge gender stereotypes
Challenging gender stereotypes may start with you. Consider the following when standing up against stereotypes:
- Educate others on research and statistics.
- Surround yourself with friends, family, and support systems that are open about emotions.
- Be honest about how you feel.
- Practice expressing your emotions through outlets like journaling or poetry.
- Consider joining a support group.
- Tell your friends when a joke or comment they’ve made is sexist, plays into toxic masculinity, or otherwise perpetuates potentially harmful stereotypes.
- Let go of harmful or unhealthy relationships.
- Change your idea of what makes someone a “man” or “woman” and try to view people as other humans.
- Treat everyone you meet with the same level of respect.
- Understand that you do not have to be a parent, get married, or live a certain lifestyle if it doesn’t align with your values and desires.
- Encourage others to seek mental health support.
- Understand that every person may experience emotions in their own way, and an individual doesn’t necessarily represent every person of their gender.
- Raise your children by celebrating their unique interests and personalities rather than focusing on gender roles and expectations.
- If you enjoy following traditional gender roles, don’t shame those who do not (and vice versa).
- Talk to a therapist about your emotions and mental health.
- Learn about the difference between sex and gender.
Support options
Facing gender stereotypes related to emotions can take a toll on mental health over time, potentially leading to stress, burnout, and a sense of being misunderstood. Talking to a therapist about these challenges can be one way to learn coping skills and receive support. However, some people may not feel comfortable attending therapy in person due to social pressures or other factors. In these cases, you might consider talking to a therapist online through a platform like BetterHelp.
An online platform offers the chance to attend therapy from the comfort of your home or any location with an internet connection. In addition, you can choose the gender of your therapist, which may allow you to connect with someone who has experienced similar societal pressure regarding their gender.
Evidence suggests that online therapy tends to be equally effective across gender, and a 2019 study reported that “multimodal digital psychotherapy is a potentially effective treatment for adult depression,” with additional research supporting its use for a variety of mental health concerns.
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