Q&A: Engaging in Philosophy
Engaging in Philosophy
Question
Hello,
Why is it that in all areas of philosophy and science, and even critical thinking in general, there are more men than women who engage in it or are interested in it? Meaning, if it’s more of a male field, then women who engage in it are supposed to be more masculine. I’m asking this as a woman, and it bothers me a bit. I don’t feel masculine; I actually think I’m very feminine compared to some of my other friends who aren’t interested in these topics at all… Why does this interest men specifically? What is the difference, really? How can this be explained without ignoring the fact that a woman who deals with this doesn’t mean she isn’t feminine?
Answer
You really have no reason to be troubled by this. I don’t know how to define masculinity or femininity, certainly not in the intellectual sphere. There are different average characteristics, so what? Why does everyone have to fit the average of their gender?
The reason there are fewer women could be essentialist in nature (different tendencies and abilities) or incidental (social and historical steering and influences). Someone who deviates from that is of course not flawed in any way, so you really have nothing to be worried about.
Discussion on Answer
It’s a little troubling because if I’m interested in this and it’s a men’s field, then maybe there’s something “not right” about me. Why can’t I be like everyone else and deal with “girls’” things? Maybe I’m not feminine enough. But mainly I wanted to understand why there are more men in this field, and maybe understand where this involvement comes from, and from that understand what it says about me. When you say tendencies and abilities, what do you mean? That men are more intellectual?
Completely normal. In general, very few people are entirely “masculine” or entirely “feminine” (that is, according to all the stereotypes and the “stringencies”), and דווקא they are the exception. A person has so many layers, and people differ from one another. Very often, the classically stereotypical “men” show a lot of “feminine” feelings when you get to know them a little more deeply. Beyond that, many times the traits considered masculine or feminine aren’t agreed upon at all, and are even defined in opposite ways by different people. In short, most people are like that in some of their traits.
This question occupied me in the past, and I found partial answers to it. I think it’s worth distinguishing between 3 arenas: 1. Women’s versus men’s areas of interest 2. The proportion of students in philosophy 3. The proportion of participants on “polemical” platforms like Michi’s site. I think that at least regarding the last group, male biology (especially hormones) creates a basic aggressiveness that pushes men into a world of “competitive” arguments (sublimation). That is of course just a gut feeling that needs to be backed up by findings and by a broader theoretical framework.
Rest easy. I’m a social worker, a thoroughly female profession. I don’t have a uterus, and in all the clinical seminars I’m one of the only men. Is something wrong with me? I don’t think so… Do what’s good for you 🙂
Yes, men do tend more toward abstract inquiry. But if there’s a woman who has that tendency, does that mean something is wrong with her? Most people tend to speak gossip. If I don’t have that tendency, or if I overcome it, does that mean there’s something wrong with me?
Here on the site, for example, you’ll hardly find any women. Apparently this just isn’t an area of interest for many of them. So is a woman who is interested in it somehow invalid or defective? Why should that be troubling?