Oh oh, Science Asks Are Men Really Better With Directions Than Women And Got An Answer, Even For Massachusetts!
Oh oh, time to bang a U-ee!
So, are men better with directions? Let’s find out. If you’re from the New England area, you are all too familiar with the phrase “bang a U-ee” For out of staters that means make a u turn. so we have our own way of communicating here in Massachusetts. If you are not familiar with our roads, you better have a good navigation system.
This might cause a few problems
A study found the old stereotype that men are better navigators might actually be true. But not because they’re naturally better at it. They think society causes it by encouraging boys to do things like play outside more often. So men start honing those skills at a younger age than women do.
Researchers at the University of Illinois say the old stereotype that men are better at navigating might actually be TRUE. But not for the reasons you might think.
A real Map Quest
They had men and women try to navigate their way through a city using only a map, or verbal instructions. And the guys performed significantly better than the women did.
Experts used to think maybe men evolved to be better navigators by doing more hunting and gathering. But a study over a decade ago disproved that idea.
Why the results were this way
So why would men be better at finding their way around than women? They think it’s because men get more practice at it, especially when they’re young.
Society encourages boys to play outside more than girls. So they might develop more of those navigational skills at a young age, and have more time to hone them throughout their life.
It’s also just a trend they saw, not a hard-and-fast rule. There are plenty of women who are great navigators, and plenty of men who suck at it.
How we are raised?
A previous study looked at the spatial awareness skills of men and women who had similar upbringings. And when that was the case, women were just as good at navigating as men were.
(New Scientist / NY Post / Royal Society)