The LA Times published an article based on a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine that examined how male and female brains function differently.
The result? The study suggested that men are more likely to favor perception-to-action pathways, while women lean toward intuition-to-reason pathways. However, as Altenar posed this question to its employees and social media audience, it became clear that the study not only highlighted supposed gender-based differences but also sparked a range of opinions.
From the dawn of time, the phrase “The Battle of the Sexes” has echoed across generations—and through countless remakes of the same sports-themed film. The idea that male and female brains operate through different pathways might offer theories about how people work, love, and think. Here are some of the fascinating responses we received from Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, and its followers on this timeless topic.
The Battle of the Sexes: A Product of Culture
Many Altenar employees and online respondents viewed the LA Times study as outdated and flawed—especially in terms of how it applies to brain function in the workplace.
Marina Zacharopoulou called out the problematic aspects of the study, noting that we “can’t rely on a research paper that was conducted nine years ago.” She added that labeling brains as distinctly “male” or “female” often causes more societal issues than it resolves.
Marina warned that studies like this have the potential to shape how society treats boys, girls, men, and women—when in fact, there’s little evidence that brain structure or activity differs meaningfully between genders.
“There are no meaningful differences between male and female brain structures or activity that would hold up across diverse populations,” Marina said, “nor do the supposed differences explain the familiar but minor variations in personality or ability.”
She concluded powerfully: “The male and female approach is different, but only because of culture—nothing more.”
This view was widely shared among respondents. Konstantinos Vasilakos built upon Marina’s points by highlighting the lack of evidence for biological differences in the brain between genders.
“Even if differences exist on average,” Konstantinos noted, “that doesn’t mean individuals of any gender can’t develop uniquely based on upbringing and societal norms.”
He continued, “In my experience, we expect men and women to behave in certain ways, so our assumptions about how each gender thinks are shaped by cognitive bias and cultural programming.”
The consensus on whether the “battle of the sexes” manifests in the workplace? A clear “no.” As one respondent put it: “There’s no obvious difference in how male and female brains function at work—just expressions of performative, socially constructed gender roles.”
Stay tuned for Altenar’s next Altenar-and-You survey to share your opinion. To learn more about Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, visit the official website or reach out to one of our passionate professionals today.
