For centuries, society has framed empathy as a feminine trait, while dominance and assertiveness were considered masculine. Even historical figures reflected these biases. Philosopher Mary Astell wrote in 1705 that women who achieved great things were “Men in Petticoats,” and Queen Elizabeth I famously claimed she would rule like a king despite her “feeble” body.
Today, subtle gendered biases still shape perceptions. Men displaying empathy may be seen as weak, while women displaying dominance can be labeled aggressive. This raises a key question: are women inherently more empathetic, or is empathy shaped by socialisation?
The Science Behind Empathy
Empathy involves understanding others’ thoughts and emotions, with two main types: cognitive empathy, the ability to recognize and take another’s perspective, and affective empathy, the emotional response to another’s feelings. Scientists measure empathy through questionnaires and practical tasks.
Historically, studies show women score slightly higher on empathy tests than men on average. Simon Baron-Cohen, a clinical psychologist at Cambridge University, suggests that the female brain is “predominantly hard-wired for empathy,” while the male brain is “predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems.” He points to prenatal testosterone exposure as influencing social development, linking higher fetal testosterone to lower empathy scores and stronger systemizing skills.
The Role of Genes and Environment
Many researchers challenge the idea that empathy differences are innate. Neuroscientist Gina Rippon calls it the “female brain myth,” emphasizing that children’s brains are highly responsive to environmental influences. Large-scale studies across 57 countries show that gender differences in empathy are small and inconsistent.
Genetic research supports this: only about 10% of individual variation in empathy is explained by genes, and none of the identified genes are linked to sex. Environment, upbringing, and socialisation play a major role.
Socialisation and Power Dynamics
Women often display empathy more frequently, not because it is innate, but because girls are socialised to prioritize others’ emotions from a young age. Toys and societal expectations encourage nurturing behaviors in girls and independence or assertiveness in boys.
Power dynamics also affect empathy. Research indicates that individuals with lower social or economic power are better at perceiving others’ emotions. Historically, men held more societal power, which may partially explain why men appear less empathetic on average.
Empathy Can Be Learned
Empathy is not fixed. Nathan Spreng, a neurologist at McGill University, emphasizes that it is dynamic and can be cultivated over a lifetime. Studies show men and women’s brains respond similarly to emotional stimuli, suggesting that perception and practice, rather than gender, shape empathetic ability.
In one 2023 study, men initially scored lower than women on self-reported empathy questionnaires. However, when primed to expect high scores, men’s results matched those of women, highlighting the impact of mindset and context.
Conclusion
Scientific evidence reveals that empathy is a complex mix of biology, socialisation, and environment. While women may score slightly higher on some measures, the range of empathy within genders is much larger than between them. Gender alone does not determine empathetic ability; it is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and enhanced in anyone.
