Men aren't naturally more aggressive, but they sure as hell are socialised to be

Men and women are both aggressive, just in different ways. Men are usually upfront about it, women are more passive-aggressive. Men are usually blunt, women drop vicious little hints. Men get physically aggressive and will pummel you into the ground. Women get mentally aggressive, and will tear you down from the inside out until your self-esteem is utterly shot. Each have their own advantages. Men are physically more powerful. But women are more wily. In a way, they kind of have to be. Note, these are just generalizations based on what I've experienced. But let me tell you, the most *brutal* workplace environment I was ever unfortunate enough to be in was 100% female. Petty backstabbers, that lot.

**In terms of physical aggression - yes, men are naturally more aggressive. Both nature and nurture play a part in the contemporary difference we see between male and female aggression.** - [Studies show that overall, men are more aggressive than women] (https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/men-more-violent.htm). This is partly to do with the evolutionary differences between men and women's bodies. On average, men are larger, [stronger] (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205132404.htm), and [faster] (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/why-men-can-run-faster-than-women-1.1165988). - On a biological level - the male tendency toward aggression can be linked to [testosterone levels] (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693622/). Testosterone is a hormone that's generated to prepare the body to respond to competition, and spikes of it are linked to acts of aggression. Both men and women have testosterone in their bodies, but [men generally have much higher levels] (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323085). - From an evolutionary standpoint, higher testosterone levels in men makes sense. Men had to compete with each other for [reproductive purposes] (https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2016.0310). - There's no doubt that [socialisation] (https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/gender-and-socialization/) also plays a part in the predominance of male aggression. Expectations create and reinforce behaviour. But if socialisation were entirely to blame, then aggression levels should increase from childhood onward. As it is, a difference in aggression between males and females is evident from very young ages. Boys are reported to be more physically aggressive than girls [over extensive cultural and geographical ranges] (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736589/). - It is not to say that women can't also be aggressive - [they definitely can] (https://www.scoopwhoop.com/The-Most-Dangerous-Female-Criminals-In-The-World-/). But in almost every [statistic] (https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cvus0702.pdf), they are trumped by men. The cliche of women being more [passively aggressive] (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327957pspr0903_2) and men more physically does, on average, hold up as true.

**the idea that male aggression is natural is a myth that we perpetuate to justify the problem rather than address it.** - men are socialised to believe that masculinity is aggression. whether this means they must be sexual aggressors and pursue women or that they must be aggressive in the more literal sense. - this is a weak justification of a serious issue which needs to be talked about. it offers an excuse to aggressive men that justifies their behaviour as natural and women often internalise it. it places blame on women for not doing enough to accommodate the aggressiveness. - [we must challenge the idea that men don’t have control over the way they act.] (https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/1124602/science-proves-theres-nothing-natural-about-male-aggression-toward-women/amp/) it is infantilising, regressive and benefits no one. - this contributes to the belief that men must be coddled and are not responsible for their behaviour, which negatively affects the women who take on the emotional burden and labour of acting as his caretaker rather than equal. - [some men hold onto a narrow view of what it means to be manly,. when this is challenged - such as when a partner doesn’t wish to play the role of a housewife — it can lead to feelings of intense anger, ultimately resulting in violence.](https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost.com/2019/01/16/the-scientific-reasons-why-men-are-more-violent-than-women/amp/)

Um... I hate to say this, but hormones are one of the few things that do indeed vary radically between the male and female sexes. And yes, these hormones absolutely affect temperament. Which has a direct relationship with many things, including aggression. I'd GUESS that men are naturally more aggressive than women, but I can't know that for sure. I'm convinced, however, that they can not possibly be nearly the same.