A recent medical study by Dr. Joseph T. Lurito, assistant radiology professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, has created a stir among male/female relations.
His research suggests that men really do listen with just half their brains. In a study of 10 men and 10 women, brain scans showed that men, when listening, mostly used the left sides of their brains, the region long associated with understanding language. Women in the study used both sides.
Other studies have suggested that women can handle listening to two conversations at once. One of the reasons may be that they have more brain devoted to it, according to Lurito.
Many women after reading about this study immediately pointed the findings out to men in their life (I know I did) with interesting responses.
When I told a male friend of mine he immediately responded, "Well, men only need half their brain anyway."
Not wanting to hurt his feelings, I left that one alone.
Lurito stated he didn't want a battle of the sexes, he just wanted people to realize men and women may process language differently.
The study is just one of many differences between males and females. Most men and women tend to enjoy different pastimes. Some men and women, however, do not keep that in mind.
In a related, but disturbing turn of events, I have heard an increasing number of area men calling craft shows "crap shows."
I will testify there is absolutely no crap at these shows. The aisles are lined with crafts that many women find enticing. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder.
I would argue if men used all of their brains, they'd see the beauty we do.
A man, who probably never set foot in a craft show, thought they only sold blue crafts at these events. As all women who attend craft shows know, there are many colors offered at these shows. Maybe his wife should really throw him off and come home with something hunter green.
Just as some men would not enjoy attending a craft show, I would most likely not enjoy deer hunting. I would not enjoy sitting in the cold waiting for an animal to walk by so I could kill it. Not to mention the fact that I would have difficulty shooting a deer, both because I have never shot a gun and because I think deer are beautiful, graceful animals.
I am not anti-hunting; I just know I probably wouldn't enjoy hunting as a pastime. I donÕt even need both sides of my brain to know this.
I question how much fun hunting really is when I hear stories of men falling asleep in deer stands waiting for their target. I have never fallen asleep at a craft show. I have yawned a few times but never fallen asleep.
I have vowed to take their word that hunting is "fun" at face value, and I expect the same in return concerning my interests.
The only fair conclusion to draw from Lurito's study is that there are differences between men and women. Not all men or all women enjoy the same interests or hobbies.
Tolerating these differences creates good relations between the sexes. It promotes peace and harmony on earth, or at least between men and women! After all, variety is the spice of life!