drrich2
Contributor
If you did a research study looking at trends in large groups, I imagine you'd find some perhaps statistically significant differences in some trends. Men have higher circulating testosterone levels, which are associated with aggression, for example. Even if men and women had no inherent biological differences in trends toward different qualities (e.g.: physical aggression), we live in a gendered society. Obviously it has importance to peoples' sense of self; read of the arduous road some trans people go to 'transition.'
All that said, I think individual variation trumps it when you're talking about specific people. While I believe there are differences in trends amongst large groups, I think that falls apart when you start assuming if they make Jane Doe a moderator, she'll be more conciliatory and less confrontational that John Doe, who'll be an alpha male and more likely to get in ego wars with violators.
And the stereotypes don't always hold well dealing with groups. Years ago, I read defense attorneys with a female client may not want many women on the jury, as women allegedly tend to be more prone to be hypercritical of other women. I don't know the basis for that. I have observed that some women sometimes have higher standards for each other than they do men (e.g.: resentment over not getting a thank-you note for a gift).
