**There are many ways that toughness can be measured. This comparison between sexes is unnecessary.** * I personally do not see the point in this comparison, and a statement such as this erases the uniqueness of each individual person. While I definitely think women are undermined because they’re often thought to be less tough than men, to say that women are tougher than men does not actually advance any sort of feminist movement. * Toughness can be measured in several forms. Taking pain for a brief example, pain tolerance varies from person to person, not from sex to sex. The [American Pain Society](https://novusspinecenter.com/blog/pain/pain-tolerance-pain-threshold) found that pain responses can vary depending on biological, psychological, and sociological factors in one’s life. Past traumas, increased emotions, and hypersensitivity can also influence how one experiences pain. Both men and women will have different experiences that may change how they react to pain. Toughness can also be considered when talking about emotions, physical strength, stress management, etc. There are varied reactions to things that happen in life. Toughness is therefore also varied. * There are definitely sociological factors that cause women to be considered less tough than men, and men are pressured to conceal their emotions and “appear" tough. I certainly believe women have to fight against patriarchal standards and sexism more than men, but comparing sexes often leads to more tension and reinforces the gender binary when it can be avoided.

I'd like to see a man pass a watermelon-sized lifeform through his penis without crying like a little girl. Sorry to be so crass, but that's just how it is.

**Toughness isn’t determined by sex; sometimes women are tougher than men, and sometimes men are tougher than women.** • Characterised as being [“able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient”](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/tougher), the term tough can be interpreted both physically and mentally. • As a result of the patriarchal assumption that women are the weaker sex, many harmful stereotypes have been formed which has negatively affected both perceptions of men who aren’t ‘strong enough’ and women who are too dominant. • There are arguments on all sides which you’re obviously going to adhere to dependent on beliefs of your own strength. For example, regarding physical strength, one may argue that men are stronger. They can generally run further, they can lift more, they can build more muscle etc. But on the other hand, [women experience periods]( https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/15-times-being-a-female-was-not-what-anyone) once a month which come with all sorts of emotional and physical challenges. Women also experience smear tests, pregnancy, childbirth etc. • When considering mental and emotional strength, society’s expectations have had a large impact on how we view toughness. For example, there are expectations on men not to show emotion, which can lead to internalised mental health problems and unfortunately an increase in male suicide rates. Therefore, it can be dangerous to have hierarchies about who is the toughest. We don’t need even more reason to divide men and women in society. • So clearly there are different examples of both physical and mental strength that separate men and women - but how can we definitively determine who is tougher? We can’t. Perceptions of ‘toughness’ will always be based on our own experiences.

Men are physically tougher than women. Women are internally tougher than men. If you don’t believe this, ask a man to bear children.