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
Dad sparks online debate after cradling daughter’s head for 45 minutes so she could sleep during a flight
People are frequently seen debating something or other on the internet these days.
Given that it essentially brought millions of people together in one location and allowed them to freely express their emotions, it was unavoidable. But they were always going to spark a heated argument, regardless of how diametrically opposed they were.
Even while contentious images and videos are becoming commonplace on the internet, it doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile to check them out whenever they appear. Thus, when I saw a photo of a father and his dozing kid shot during a flight—one that, incidentally, has sparked a variety of comments—we had to share it.
The discussion started when Reddit user u/therra123 posted a wonderful photo of a father and daughter in the r/MadeMeSmile thread.
An image of a girl curled up on her aisle seat during a trip was submitted by the user. Her father had put his palm under her cheek, preventing her head from resting on the armrest, which is, I’m sure anyone who has used one, a quite harsh and coarse pillow.
“This man kept his hand in this position for 45 minutes so his daughter could sleep well,” says the Reddit caption that goes with the image.
We have to say at this point that, in our perspective, this appears to be no more than a father going about his business. Although the post was appropriately labeled “wholesome moments,” some Redditors disagreed.
Remarkably, the father’s activities drew criticism; some individuals wrote merely to point out that he could have done it more skillfully.
The widely shared post received approximately 60,000 likes and thousands of comments, with responses like these:
“It seems like… I believe there must be a better approach.
“Do you not have your towel?” said another. The most crucial item you can pack is a towel.
“Shows a distinct lack of creative problem solving,” said a third person. You claim that after 45 minutes, you were unable to come up with a workable answer. Hey!
A fourth person wrote, “Seriously. Fold up a sweatshirt, and presto! Instant-pillow. Here’s an absurd idea: request a blanket and pillow from a flight attendant.
Others, meanwhile, were more understanding of the father and his gesture. By coincidence, we also find ourselves in that category!
What about you, though? Was there anything improper, in your opinion, with the father using his kid as a makeshift pillow throughout this flight? Tell us in the comments below.
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