Different Thinking Styles of Men and Women Essay Example

dominant side (Funderstanding, 2001).Thus, the learning and thinking process is enhanced when both side of the brain participate in a balanced manner. This means strengthening your less dominate hemisphere of the brain (Brain Wave Entertainment Technology, 2005).

The problem is that society has traditionally attributed center gender attributes to women and men, based on the characteristics of the left brain hemisphere and the right brain hemisphere. Unfortunately, tradition has provided that women are limited only to their right brain dominance, and men are confined only to their left brain dominance.This societal conception may be due to the fact that the two different sides, or hemispheres, of the brain are responsible for different manners of thinking. The following shows the differences between left-brain and right-brain thinking (Funderstanding, 2001): Left brain – logical, sequential, rational, analytical, objective, looks at parts. Right brain – random, intuitive, holistic, synthesizing, subjective, looks at wholes.

Right-brained subjects focus on aesthetics, feeling, and creativity. It processes from whole to parts, holistically.It starts with the answer or the bigger picture first, not the details. On the other hand, left-brained subjects stress on logical thinking, analysis, and accuracy.

The left side of the brain processes information in a linear manner – it processes from part to whole. It takes pieces, arranges them in a logical order, then draws up conclusions (Funderstanding, 2001; Brain Wave Entertainment Technology, 2005). The problem is that society has defined women’s way of thinking is strictly dominated by the right brain hemisphere, and men’s way of thinking as dominated by the left brain.This has resulted in gender attributes that have long provided for limitations on how men and women alike

recognize certain characteristics as feminine or masculine, and thereby create their sense of identities, or recognize their strengths, based on these gender attributes.

Men v. Women Traditional ideas about masculine and feminine thinking styles especially come to play in studying task planning between the two sexes. When viewed through a gender-specific lens, men draw on data while women view the big picture by connecting a range of seemingly disparate dots into a cogent strategy (Shambaugh, 2005).Using the same gender-specific lens to study communication, the feminine style has also been traditionally characterized as open and collaborative, while men are described as directive and driven (Shambaugh, 2005).

A report from the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, called “Styles of Success, The Thinking and Management Styles of Women and Men,” examines the similarities and differences between women and men in the way they think and how this influences their business leadership (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).The study indicates that men and women think, manage, and define success differently. For instance, more than half of the women business owners surveyed in the study (53%) emphasized intuitive or right-braining; t hey focus on the need for creativity, sensitivity, and values-based decision making (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994). On the other hand, seven out of ten (715) of the male business owners surveyed emphasized logical or left-brain thinking. The men stressed the need for analysis, processing information methodically, and developing procedures (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).In the report, two-thirds (66%) of women business tend to reflect on decisions, and weigh options and outcomes before moving to action, as opposed to only 56% for the male business owners (Center

for Women’s Business Research, 1994).

Women are also more likely to gather information from business advisors and associates. 44% of men business owners (compared to 34% of women business owners) stressed on action and gave greater attention to external events and activities than reflection (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).Women’s management styles, as mentioned, are influenced by the way they think, and thus female management style has been characterized as focusing on communication and building positive relationships. Research also indicates that women are more successful than men at traditional, day-to-day tasks of management (Peters, 1998).

Women fare better than men in hiring the right people for the job, developing and coaching subordinates, organizing, monitoring and controlling the work of others.Co-workers also find that women are better than men in creating a vision, setting clear direction and maintaining high standards of performance (Peters, 1998). In other words, women seem to be better suited towards a team orientation, where they understand that personal success is dependent on the support of others. Women are better than men at communicating and keeping people informed, and are able to put the success of the team ahead of their own by using influencing skills rather than authority to accomplish objectives (Peters, 1998).In addition, women have a higher ability to motivate others, since women tend to emphasize behaviors which generate enthusiasm in their organizational relations, and are generally more expressive of their thoughts and feelings. They are also more ready to show appreciation of the efforts of others are them, as compared to male leaders (Peters, 1998).

Women entrepreneurs, for instance, describe their businesses in family terms, and see their business relationships

as a network (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).On the other hand, men think in hierarchical terms and place more importance on establishing clear rules and procedures. Women see men as being better able to delegate while men admire women for being more perceptive and caring in their business relationships, and being more able to balance different tasks and priorities (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994). While both sexes acknowledge that there is more to success than monetary gain, the perception of success or achievement again varies with the way men and women think (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).Women derive satisfaction and success from building relationships with customers and employees, having control of their own destiny, and doing something that they consider worthwhile. On the other hand, men describe success in terms of gaining self-satisfaction for a job well done and achieving desired goals (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).

Gender Limitations Left-brain thinking is logical and precise, and dominated what was called the Information Age (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005).On the other hand, the Conceptual Age is said to be emerging, and this is led by the right-brain which emphasizes artistry, design, creativity, and emotions (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005). Due to these attributes, the Conceptual Age has been described as the age that values the contributions of women (Karen McCullough & Co.

, 2005). But are these characteristics truly inherent in all women and in women alone? The left brain has long been known as the linear, logical, and analytical were our success is measured by scores on tests such as the SATs (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005).Engineers, accountants,

and the like are described as ruled by their left brains. Indeed, men in general are described to be ruled by their left brains, while the women are said to be ruled by their right brain (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005).

Studies show that the left brain is not enough on its own (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005). In today’s diverse world, people need the skills, talents, and creative thinking that comes from the right hemisphere of the brain. In fact, what is necessary is leadership or a way of thinking that combines both left and right brain thinking (Karen McCullough & Co.

2005).Numerous studies have tried to determine whether there is a real different in management style between men and women (Peters, 1998; Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994). Evidence shows that seasoned leaders, whether men or women, share certain characteristics (Peters, 1998). They are all self-disciplined, ambitious, know their stuff, and are likely to embrace a visible, take-charge, and actively influential approach to their roles (Peters, 1998). Being a good leader thus requires an integration of both the left and right brain.In fact, women business owners’ decision-making style is deemed as more “whole-brained” than their male counterparts, meaning that in women, right and left brain thinking is more evenly distributed (Center for Women’s Business Research, 1994).

Yet despite these findings, women are commonly misdiagnosed since their thinking styles was foreign and confusing to men. Some men saw women’s behavior as indecisive, unfocused, scattered, and even prone to “loose cannon” behavior (Karen McCullough & Co. , 2005).