**This opinion depends entirely on what differences we are discussing** Men and women have been said to have physical, intellectual and spiritual differences, but for the less concrete examples, these differences are often exaggerated using misogynistic stereotypes. Therefore, we can't say this conclusively. - Physiologically speaking, men typically have 'proportionately more muscle mass, more bone mass, and a lower percentage of body fat' than [women](https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00118.2006#:~:text=The%20differences%20between%20the%20sexes,of%20body%20fat%20than%20women.) - However, claims that men are more intelligent than women have been found to be [mythical at best](https://wsimag.com/science-and-technology/56918-the-myth-of-gender-differences-in-intelligence), with the argument that women make better empathisers largely coming down to how they are socialised - Some (though definitely *not all*) differences between men and women come down to personal choice - However, societal gender norms often push women into certain life trajectories, such as homemakers due to the [hiring discrimination young women face](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/aug/12/managers-avoid-hiring-younger-women-maternity-leave)

**Differences largely exist because society discriminates based on sex.** • At a basic level, sexism is [“linked to beliefs around the fundamental nature of women and men and the roles they should play in society”](https://eige.europa.eu/publications/sexism-at-work-handbook/part-1-understand/what-sexism) and can adequately explain the differences between men and women. However, there must also be a consideration that _‘differences’_ are subjective. For example, are we discussing physical differences, psychological differences, social differences etc? • For the purposes of this point, I am treating ‘differences’ as inequalities or disparities among men and women. This can include the existence gender roles, stereotypes, bias in the workplace, economic imbalances, and discrimination. I make the argument that ultimately, these things or ‘differences’ exist, because society is sexist. An alternative phrasing could be that _society treats men and women differently because it is sexist_. • Sexism tells us that men and women are unequal and should be treated as such; typically, women suffer sexism on a larger scale than men. For example, to be sexist is to hold the opinion or belief that women are inferior or incapable of achieving the same as their male counterparts and this can explain the differences they experience as a result. This can include discrimination in the workplace or an ever-increasing pay gap, or prejudice stereotyping in education. Whatever the difference between the sexes, it _can_ be explained by sexism. • I’m not at all denying the existence of physical and psychological differences between men and women. Typically, [“men are more aggressive than women”, “men feel devastated by failure”, “women are more intuitive” and “women tend to be much more sensitive”](https://relationship-institute.com/differences-between-men-and-women/) etc. But the exaggeration of these differences between the sexes has led to increased and extremely harmful stereotypes characterised by sexism. • To take the _opposite_ approach that these differences are ‘biological’, would almost excuse the fact that they exist. If we put our differences primarily down to things we can’t control, then we’d be justifying some of the awful treatment experienced mainly by women, purely because they were born women - this is wrong.