It seems like everywhere I turn lately—while being interviewed on a podcast, speaking at a church, or even talking to the person next to me on an airplane—people keep asking the same question: “Since you’ve done so much gender research, how do you respond to this hot-button topic these days?”
They often follow up with: “What do you say to people in today’s cultural space who insist that gender differences do not exist or are a social construct?”
Let’s talk about that. What do Jeff and I say to folks who think there really aren’t two sexes and/or that it’s mostly just a matter of identity? How do we respond to those who say men and women start out the same, but are culturally conditioned to behave differently? Or to those who have come to believe that all the talk about men and women being wired differently is mostly part of a misogynistic narrative that should be actively debunked?
It occurred to me that I should share how I respond at times—including with some strategy, statistics, research, and winsome truth—in case it helps you to be confident discussing this important topic with others. I know not every reader is in the same place regarding things of faith, but I personally believe we are called to engage our culture with the truth of how we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
So if you’re interested in that too, I’m going to suggest that you strap in, put on your thinking cap, and get ready for a robust discussion. I hope this blog will be a sort of helpful tool you can pull out of your toolbox the next time you’re confronted with some of the cultural myths about gender today. In fact, I encourage you to save this post to your search engine favorites (or pin if you’re reading by email.)
Below I share three suggestions, and in Part 2 of this blog, I’ll share three more.
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