this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2026
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There is no emotional difference between the sexes.
except that men in many cultures only express anger and violence because they are told that being sad or talking to someone about feeling overwhelmed means they are weak.
There is a ton of experimental research on emotional reactions from men and women.
Here is what we know.
Men suppress facial expression. But experience the same heightened emotions from viewing unpleasant images or videos.
People who suppress facial expression the most have larger body reactions.
For example. A few ways emotion is measured is increased heat rate. Pupil dilation. Sweating.
Men are more likely to supress facial changes but show increased body stress. Faster heart rate. More sweating. Pupil dilation.
And those changes last longer even after the stimulus is removed (unpleasant video).
Women who suppress show similar patterns.
What we know is this.
Men and women both respond emotionally equally. But men's intentional suppression of face expressions actually makes them more reactive. And this reactiveness lasts longer.
This is not a biological difference but a social one.
Also fyi Every human cognitive decision is governed by "emotion'. Emotion is how we know to approach or avoid something. Including thoughts.
It feels right. Good. Pleasant. Or wrong. Incorrect. Bad.
No one is exempt from emotions as these are the root cause of motivated behaviors.
When you eat a sandwich. Emotion drove you to it. It felt good and reliving to eat when you were hungry.
It feels good to take a piss.
So it's absolutely silly when someone says someone else is more emotional.
Nope. What you mean is women express empathy more.
Does it mean men are less empathetic? No. Women just express it more.
Men are told empathy is a sign of weakness. This is toxic masculinity. And it's bad for men and women.
Also. Those body effects I mentioned. Those are stress responses.
Having longer and more extreme stress responses leads to cardiovascular damage.
Hm. Is that why men die earlier than women from heart disease?
There is evidence that's a factor. Scientific research evidence.
Suppressing the facial or verbal expression of something is not suppressing it. It's just changing the way it's expressed.
Men have high rates of drug and alcohol addiction. Men have higher rates of violence. Highest rates of suicide.
These are all significantly higher than women's rates.
It's almost like our gender norms hurt men a lot.