Abstract

Adulthood is a fundamentally different experience for women and men, even those with similar backgrounds growing up. Why is this the case? Research and theory pose several alternative explanations, grounded in ideas about nature and nurture. Most common historically has been a biological explanation (nature), pointing to the impacts of genetic, hormonal, and physiological differences between women and men. There are, to be sure, male and female traits rooted in biology or nature. But if this were the only reason for gender differences, we wouldn’t find variations in the distinctive experiences and expectations of women and men across cultures, social classes, geographical regions, and history.