![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
"Men and women both have the same hormones in their bodies. The balance of these hormones, specifically estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, are different in each gender, with testosterone being dominant in males and the other two being dominant in females. We all need all three in proper balance to be healthy. While male levels tend to be continual, women experience a monthly fluctuation that allows ovulation and then menstruation. We all know the stereotype of the hysterical, pre-menstrual bitch made famous in Midol commercials. What most people don't know is that when a woman is menstruating is when her hormonal balance most closely resembles that of a man. Think about that. Men are 'menstrual' in their hormonal balance all the time. Funny, how nobody talks about that. If women are irrational, moody, irritable and even violent when their body chemistry mirrors that of men, would it be fair to say that men are always 'on the rag' emotionally and behaviorally? Could that explain their higher propensity for violence, infidelity, inconsistent and even irrational behavior? I think it does. That's going to piss a lot of the guys off, but I get a little paranoid and overly-sensitive around my period, too, so I won't hold it against them." -- Morgaine Swann, 2005-06-01
(no subject)
Nonetheless, an interesting point.
(no subject)
Sensationalist
I would argue that men are not menstrual in their behavior. Compare that to someone who doesn't drink having a few beers versus the professional alcoholic. Behaviorally, you're comparing apples and oranges.
Phhftt.
Dagnabbit! Most. Frustrating. Problem. Ever.
Re: Phhftt.
You can (and I mean everyone, not just you all personal style) be bitchy, aggressive, depressive - all that stuff, but there is a line. If you stab someone in the eye with a fork, you've crossed. I mean, you still know where right and wrong is. If you don't you ought to be chained up somewhere.
And that (I hate to say this word but it sorta fits) "moodiness" isn't specific to any given gender.
(By trained, I mean you're given a set of values to work with, and modify them to fit your agendas....)
(no subject)
...
No, I won't start. I'll just mention that unless it was meant to be completely tongue-in-cheek, this is exactly the kind of approach that will harm the point she's trying to make. Her profile gives me no confidence whatsoever that she is qualified to comment on what anyone's hormonal composition does to their behaviour, and that includes herself---unless she can tell me about her precise hormonal situation at every point in her cycle, compare that quantitively to a man's, and then convince me that a slight shift to a more T-heavy chemical soup would have the effects she claims she is getting. I am not a medical scientist or biochemist myself, but I would be so painfully extremely wary of positing any kind of linear direct relationship between hormonal compositions and behaviour.
When pro-creationists make this kind of shaky-science argument, we throw our hands up in the air and go "Oh, please," after all.
Well spoken
(no subject)
(MTF and FTM transsexuals have described mood and behavioural changes resulting from changing hormones, and what they say is interesting. From what I recall of what an FTM friend told me, T didn't produce PMS-like effects, but did noticeably alter his driving, his agressiveness, his temper ... So no, the effects are not quite as described in this quote, but are interesting nonetheless.)
(no subject)
Can't resist an easy shot
Studies indicate that testosterone regulates aggression to some degree, but it's a feedback cycle. Artificially boosting testosterone will increase aggression and sex drive in males and females. Some people have high levels of testosterone naturally. But if "aggressive" behaviors are punished and "non-aggressive" behaviors are rewarded, the body responds by reducing testosterone (in most cases). Reverse the rewards and people's testosterone levels elevate.
People also seem to respond to projection on like minded people. Apparently in men, wtaching males compete in sports will raise testoterone as if they themselves were competing. Similarly, the presence of an attractive mating prospect will raise testosterone in men and increase aggressive behavior.
But, and here is the big but, with intelligence, we can control this behavior. And as we consciously exercise control, the chemical balnaces change.
It's cute to say things like "men are always on the rag" as if there was one good set of behavioral patterns and deviation from that norm was good or bad. And I recognize taking the idea that a stigmatized period is applicable all the time to the group doing the stigmatizing. Ho ho. but rela social modeling relies on appreciating the complexity of human nature rather than on such broad games of gender one upsmanship.
Re: Can't resist an easy shot
(no subject)
I have found fascinating the writings of Pat Califia about hir subjective experience going on testosterone. Veddy interesting.
(no subject)
S