Category Archives: Differences men and women

The smartphone: a social tool simplifying women lives


In the United States, women tend to favor using their smartphones for social purposes. According to a survey from Prosper Mobile Insight, published in June 2012 (http://www.prospermobile.com), men and women do not use their mobiles in the same way. Amongst others, activities that are exclusively done via smartphones are not the same according to the sex. The most fundamental differences concerns the use of emails, Facebook, search engines, and e-commerce sites.

Mobiles and tablets’ exclusive uses: Women prefer ‘social’ activities in comparison of men

The exclusive uses of women via their smartphones are mostly social networks: email, facebook and search engines.

57.3% of women reported checking their emails only on their mobile or tablet, against 44% of men. Regarding the use of Facebook, 48% of women say surfing on this network only via their smartphones / tablets, against only 36% of men. Same record for access to search engines, 50.9% of women reported using it via this device, against 39.4% of men.

Thus, the exclusive use of men on their mobile focuses less on ‘social’ practices. They attach similar importance to their IM and ; to a lesser extent, to the consultation of their bank account. 36% of men surveyed say using only their smartphones / tablets to get their Instant Messaging, against 32% of women.

Posted on 16 April 2013 in Women's behaviour, Differences men and women, High Tech, Internet, Sectors

The place of gender in school: what responsibility do teaching institutions have?


Diversity and equality are not synonymous

In 1975, co-education became required in all schools in France. If this mutation delighted women’s rights advocates, it has been primarily driven by economic objectives. The increase of higher education has a cost and the creation of communal institutions helped to optimize budgets. In hindsight, we understand better why so many studies highlighted gender stereotypes persistence in schools. (1)

Co-education has been considered as an economic tool before being considered as an educational tool for equality. (2) “It’s not enough to declare that co-education (even if it’s necessary) will make the gendered division of knowledge and skills disappear” says Françoise Vouillot (3), psychology teacher and a member of the Laboratory of equality (www.laboratoiredelegalite. org/).

Posted on 27 March 2013 in Differences men and women, Reflections

Digital devices at the heart of women’s lives


NICT improve the everyday life of French (New Information and Communication Technologies)

According to a survey conducted in February 2013 by Harris Interactive for Coca Cola Company (1002 respondents), 67% of people believe that the development of digital equipment has improved their personal lives. As a case in point, new digital tools have been a part of the development of their careers. 66% of employed women indicate that NICT had a positive influence on their professional lives. (1)

However, differences could be picked out among women. Firstly, the younger, the more advantaged groups, as well as the biggest digital users, are more convinced of these improvements of digital equipment on the personal life. 71% of 18-34 years old say that the NTIC evolution improved their lives, against 63% of 50 years and over. Similarly, 72% of the upper socio-professional categories admit the strong influence of digital equipment in their everyday life, against 66% of lower socio-professional categories.

Posted on 20 March 2013 in Women's behaviour, Differences men and women, High Tech, Sectors

The Web and Health: a duo elected by women


According to a survey from the Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project, 72% of Internet users and 59% of the general population looked for health information, over the last year. This study was conducted in September 2012 by phone interviews with a representative sample of 3014 people in the United States. (1)

Continue reading →

Posted on 13 March 2013 in Women's behaviour, Differences men and women, Health & Wellbeing

Women dare less than men


In Mars 2012, Harris Interactive polled online for aufeminin.com about what French people say they dare to do or not. Results show that, in specific cases, to dare differs according to the gender, age but also social class of the panel.

 

In everyday life

une-femme-oseOn the whole, 8 French people to 10 describe themselves as self-confident. This feeling is more present in men (90%) than in women (76%). Therefore, it’s not striking to observ an over-representation of women among French people who say they are not very self-confident (24% to 10% for men). This lack of confidence is more important for young people aged 18 to 24 and, in particular, for young women. 37% of them don’t feel self-confident (to 20% for young men)

Posted on 31 July 2012 in Differences men and women, Reflections
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When surfing the Internet men and women don’t share the same habits


Despite the fact that men and women have nearly the same connection to the Internet their activities (whilst browsing the web) differ according to gender, reveals a survey by The Observatoire des Usages Internet of Mediametrie, a French audience measurement company, published in November 2011.

Women are more willing to buy on the Internet.

49% of surfers are women, 51% are men. But beyond this equity, Mediametrie Survey shows that women are more inclined to buy online than men. 45% of them made online purchases during last month in comparison to 40% of men, who generally prefer to compare prices on the internet in order to find the best available deals. During the last month 2 out of 3 men compared prices online, in contrast to only 57% of women.

Posted on 21 February 2012 in Differences men and women, Internet, Reflections, Sectors
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Male and female views on underwear


A survey published in January 2012 by Kantar Worldpanel for The International Lingerie Salon in Paris analyses hot consumers trends relating to underwear. It reveals, in particular, that in regard to seduction, men and women are far from having the same perception on lingerie. Let’s take a look at these gender differences in relation to underwear.

 Less thongs, more comfort

In the big match between girdle and thong, the girdle amazingly wins. The survey shows that women buy thongs less than in the past. The thong simply isn’t fashionable anymore: between 2008 and 2011, purchases of thongs declined from 30 to 25%. On the other hand, shapewear could be the new brands’ spearhead. The girdle and high-waisted briefs are quickly regaining ground: 1 woman in 4 has one and 50% of women consider them to be practical buys, helping them to appear more slim or purchases which are fashionable again.

Posted on 16 February 2012 in Differences men and women, Fashion, Reflections, Sectors
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Cinema, a masculine world… but mainly frequented by women


Studies from the CNC (French National Centre of Cinematography) show that women go to the cinema more often than men: in 2010, they represented 53.9% of cinema-goers and 55% of unlimited access card holders (for only 51.8% of the French population). But it’s the films that are watched where we see the most striking difference: cinema remains very segmented according to gender…

First of all, men and women differ over the origin of the films they go to see. While both sexes claim to like American films, women see more French films (1% more) and much fewer non-European films (20% less).

Why is there such a difference? Notably because of their different influences when choosing the films. Men mostly rely on the media, while women have a social affinity with cinema that leads them to prefer films with actors or directors they know, or films that they’ve heard good things about (influence of word of mouth): as European and American films are the most viewed and commented on in France, its therefore toward those films that women turn. But the films present in the 2010 box office are practically all American.

Posted on 4 December 2011 in Differences men and women, Entertainment & Culture, Reflections, Sectors
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Women invest more than men in humanitarian efforts


According to a 2010 study conducted by Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, American women feel very concerned about defending important causes, whether they be humanitarian, environmental or social.
Source: Womenology Ogilvy .

The involvement of women in humanitarian causes isn’t a new phenomenon. Since the end of the Middle Ages, it was the women who were responsible for applying the Christian principle of charity to the poor people of the village. The two world wars reinforced the preeminence of women in humanitarian roles due to the increased need for females in nursing and home health aide. Even today, Mother Teresa (photo) is one of the symbols of humanitarian dedication, as a result of her actions in Indian shanty towns.

The role of women in humanitarian causes is losing no steam these days. 80% of American women claim that taking action for a major cause gave a sense and a purpose to their lives because the combined efforts of individuals made a real difference. They feel proud of themselves when they support a cause that means something to them (80%, versus 68% of men). There are therefore a lot more women than men who are willing to commit to defending a cause, as the graph below shows.

Posted on 28 October 2011 in Differences men and women, Reflections
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“Pink brain, blue brain”, a book about the neurobiological differences between girls and boys during childhood


Neuroscientist Lise Eliot published a book in the US in 2009 called “Pink brain, blue brain : How Small Differences Grow Into Troublesome Gaps — And What We Can Do About It ” in which she shows, with scientific evidence to back her up, that male and female brains are similar overall even if some differences do exist between the sexes. With the book’s release in France on the 1st of September 2011, here’s a summary.

American Lise Eliot explains that she wrote this book because as a mother and as a scientist, she was curious to understand if the differences she observed between girls and boys were due to nature or upbringing. In short, Lise Eliot wanted to revisit the nature versus nurture debate but with neuroscience’s most modern tools: the bibliography which lists the studies she used to support her claims totals 46 pages!

And the conclusion she makes from this mass of scientific data is enlightening: “At birth, boys and girls are definitely different in some ways, but they are fundamentally the same.”

Posted on 1 September 2011 in Differences men and women, Reflections, Health & Wellbeing, Sectors
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