Differences in Cognitive capacity between men and women a barrier to spiritual progress?

Paul Julius M?bius (1853-1907) was a German neurologist who published a controversial book titled "über den physiologischen Schwachsinn des Weibes" ("On the Physiological Mental Deficiency of Women") in 1900. This pamphlet, which went through eight editions during his lifetime, sparked significant debate and criticism in Wilhelmine Germany

M?bius's Background and Work

M?bius was a prominent clinical neurologist who made important contributions to the understanding of mental illnesses and was considered a pioneer in psychotherapy. He studied philosophy and theology before entering the medical field and eventually specializing in neurology. In his pamphlet, M?bius presented scientific claims about women's physical and mental capacities, arguing for their inherent inferiority. He asserted that:

1. Women lack individual thinking and rely heavily on others' input
2. Women are more susceptible to suggestion and less capable of discrimination
3. Progress comes solely from men, while women often impede advancement
4. Women are inherently quarrelsome and talkative

Impact and Criticism

The publication of this work provoked intense criticism and debate. It also generated a new wave of academic work on women's physical and mental competencies, inadvertently contributing to the emergence of contemporary German feminism. Several notable responses to M?bius's work included:

• "The Anti-feminists" (1902) by Hedwig Dohm
• "Women and Intellectualism" (1903) by Oda Olberg
• "Feminism and Science" (1902) by Johanna Elberskirchen

Elberskirchen notably criticized male scholars for their lack of scientific reasoning when discussing women, stating that they were "too much man and too little or not at all scientifically reasoning human"

"The "researchers at Stanford recently used artificial-intelligence methods to examine brain activity in roughly 1,500 young adults 20 to 35 years of age. Neuroscientists have known for many years that every human brain is characterized by a “fingerprint ” of brain activity at rest, unique to that individual. The Stanford neuroscientists used big-data artificial intelligence techniques to determine the fingerprint of every one of those 1,500 young adults and then compared females with males. Did females differ from males? Was there overlap? The results were astonishing". [1]

the 'fingerprints' of male brains were different from the fingerprints of female brains

Source: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND license from Ryali et al 2024

"As you can see, there wasn’t a continuum: the female fingerprints of brain activity were quite different from the male fingerprints of resting brain activity, with no overlap. These findings strongly suggest that what’s going on in a woman’s brain at rest is significantly different from what’s going on in a man’s brain at rest. Just as remarkably, the Stanford team mapped fMRI patterns of connectivity onto cognitive functions such as intelligence. They found particular patterns of connectivity within male brains that accurately predicted cognitive functions such as intelligence. However, that male model had no predictive power for cognitive functions in women. The differences in the prevalence of certain mental health disorders between men and women have been a subject of extensive research. These differences are not merely social constructs but may also reflect underlying biological and neuroanatomical factors" [1]

Biological and Neuroanatomical Factors

1. Hormonal Influences: Hormones, particularly gonadal steroids like estradiol, play a significant role in neural function and may contribute to sex differences in psychopathology. Estrogens, for example, have neuroprotective effects and influence neuronal growth and stress response, which could explain the higher prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders in women
2. Neuroanatomical Differences: There are documented differences in brain structure and function between men and women that might contribute to the observed disparities in mental health disorders. For instance, men are more likely to have conditions like autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia, which could be linked to variations in brain connectivity and structure
3. Genetic Factors: Genetic predispositions also play a role in these differences. Certain genetic markers have been associated with increased risk for specific disorders, which may vary between sexes

Social Constructs and Environmental Influences

1. Socialization and Gender Roles: Social constructs such as gender roles and expectations can influence the expression and diagnosis of mental health disorders. Women might be more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression due to societal norms that encourage emotional expression, whereas men might underreport these symptoms due to stigma
2. Stressful Life Events: The impact of stressful life events can differ between genders due to varying social roles and responsibilities. Women often face unique stressors related to caregiving roles, which can increase vulnerability to anxiety and depression
3. Diagnostic Biases: There is also evidence of diagnostic biases where certain behaviors are interpreted differently based on gender, potentially leading to overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of certain conditions in one sex over the other

Srila Prabhupada's Views on Gender Differences:

Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), had specific views on the roles and differences between men and women in the context of Bhakti and Vedic culture.

1. Protection and Roles: Prabhupada emphasized that women require protection at different stages of life—by their fathers, husbands, and sons. He believed that this was a natural order and part of the Vedic system
2. Education and Instruction: According to Prabhupada, Vedic literature primarily instructs men, who are then responsible for guiding their wives. He stated that women should not independently seek education or spiritual instruction outside the guidance of their husbands
3. Intelligence and Spiritual Capacity: Prabhupada made controversial statements suggesting that women are less intelligent than men, which he attributed to differences in brain size and function. However, he also acknowledged that spiritually, both men and women are equal as souls striving for spiritual advancement
4. Spiritual Challenges: He noted that women face particular challenges in spiritual life due to their stronger identification with the body, which can make it more difficult to distinguish spirit from matter
5. Cultural Context: It's important to understand that Prabhupada's statements were made within a specific cultural and historical context. Some followers interpret his teachings as practical advice tailored to his audience rather than absolute truths applicable universally
6. Cooperation in Spiritual Life: Despite his views on gender roles, Prabhupada emphasized cooperation between men and women in spiritual life, suggesting that both have unique roles that complement each other in creating a spiritually progressive society

Overall, while Srila Prabhupada's views reflect traditional Vedic notions of gender roles, they also highlight the importance of cooperation and mutual respect in spiritual practice.

Conclusion:

While social constructs do play a role in the observed differences in psychopathology between men and women, there is substantial evidence suggesting that biological factors, including hormonal influences and neuroanatomical differences, also contribute significantly to these disparities. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for developing Bhakti in our own gender specific approach to our relationship to Krishna.

References:

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/sax-on-sex/202405/ai-finds-astonishing-malefemale-differences-in-human-brain
2. https://germanhistory-intersections.org/en/knowledge-and-education/ghis:document-162
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30640497/
4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9018050/
5. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-handbook-of-the-international-psychology-of-women/sex-and-gender-in-psychopathology/BC35C1A0E92F4E2DC0FF568AF759CDFC
6. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ajp.154.12.1641
7. https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Gender-Gap-in-Mental-Health.aspx