Why does it seem like males are the default human?

[Arra]

I've often wondered why it seems (to me, and I think to others) that males are the 'default' human, but females are a special type of human. For example, when I think of 'human', some general person comes to mind, but that person is male. If I personify an object, like draw eyes nose and mouth on a teacup, the personified teacup seems male. I'd only view it to be female if long eyelashes or something were drawn on it. If anything, it seems like it should be the opposite, that the male should be the special type of human, because of the special Y chromosome, and because asexually reproducing organisms are more or less 'female'. Do other people experience this? Why do you think it is?

[Spartiate]

Cause women come from Adam's rib! (seriously, it's probably a social thing)

[Tara]

This is because society deems male the dominant of the two, so over the years we've just perceived everything as automatically male or with male pronouns. Unless you're a sailor, in which case all boats are apparently female.

[nina]

...because "man" refers to all humans. It's antediluvian thinking spawned from a patriarchal society.

[Xei]

The clue is in the etymology; there are males, and then there are fe-males, which are kind of like a bonus package male with extra features.

[nina]

The clue is in the etymology; there are males, and then there are fe-males, which are kind of like a bonus package male with extra features. Technically the male is the bonus package with extra features, not the female.

[Xei]

Truth.

[tommo]

Yeah it's technically the other way around. We all start off female and only some of us turn into males. In the womb that is. EDIT: I just realised that women probably came from womb+men. Interesting, maybe I'm way off but if it's true that would be funny.

[changed]

In our society and many others, the male is the dominate of the two. That should answer your question.

[nina]

"The Old English wifman meant "female human" (man or mann had a default meaning of "male human," but could also be used generically to refer to a person of unspecified gender, corresponding to Modern English "one" or "someone")."

[Armistice]

Society. And even though women are now equals, the old thought still remains. That's my take

[Jeff777]

Society. And even though women are now equals, the old thought still remains. That's my take And even though women are now equals, the old thought still remains. And even though women are now equals women are now equals Since when?

[HeavySleeper]

Over the internet I see anyone I talk to as male until they tell me otherwise. Even if they have a woman's name.

[Arra]

Over the internet I see anyone I talk to as male until they tell me otherwise. Even if they have a woman's name. Same with me, usually. That's another one, but I guess that can be explained by the fact that most people you'll encounter on the internet are males (I think). If I was on some Justin Bieber fan-site I might see everyone as female unless they say they're male. On this site, it's easy, because most people have their genders beside their names. It is odd being on the female side of that phenomenon. When online somewhere, everyone assumes I'm a male at first. It's always been interesting to note the differences in how I'm treated before and after they figure out I'm female.

[JussiKala]

Same with me, usually. That's another one, but I guess that can be explained by the fact that most people you'll encounter on the internet are males (I think). AFAIK Only 1/3 of internet users are female. However, once we get to contributing on sites and posting stuff, women are even rarer. Now as to man being the default. I am male. I do not think like this. I think of females and males just as much, but just depending on the situation. Yes, culture has had an impact on which one I think when we are talking bout someone in a certain profession, but I don't always share those views. In general, I think of both the same. Might it have something to do with sexuality? I'm a bisexual, both are fine. If you think women are "special" because you adore them, while thinking of the males as the basic human, no feelings attached, it might hold some water here. Also if you were raised in christianity or islam, you are gonna think of males as the default, since the religions enforce that.

[Arra]

I don't think you necessarily have to be raised in one of those religions. You just have to be brought up in a culture that's influenced by them. Or maybe the bias doesn't all come from religion. Males are dominant in nature, after all, if dominance is really the issue. Congratulations on not being subconsciously affected by society in that way. I wish I wasn't, but admit I am. It doesn't seem to me like it has to do with sexual preference.

[changed]

Since when? Oh my god, you don't even know how hard I laughed when I read your post Jeff.

[Snowboy]

Ironically, it is actually the other way around! All humans start off with the female "blueprint" since the male Y chromosome doesn't kick in until... 6 weeks?... please correct that if I am wrong.

[Armistice]

Since when? That reminds me of this:

[Alric]

It isn't true that only 1/3 of people on the internet are woman. It is very close to being equal. People just like using old stereotypes from like 15 years ago, and it is hard for their views to change to reality, when some place in their mind they are still thinking in the old ways. Which is probably what causes the problem the original poster made. It sounds like even though things are equal(at least where we live), views still tend to lag behind reality.

[Philosopher8659]

Actually, I have always thought the other way around. A woman is the mother of all living. etc. etc. Perhaps it is just your gender preferences. At any rate, when I think of humans, I don't get gender specific. To me that is like thinking in terms of a crotch. The mind has one, and only one definition, being male or female only determines one's resources that they have to do the job. The human mind has the same definition as any other environmental acquisition system of a living organism. Right now, however, it has still not evolved quite enough to even know what it is for.

[Purebred]

Since when? God damn I loled. ;D

[Vertebrate]

Over the internet I see anyone I talk to as male until they tell me otherwise. Even if they have a woman's name. I find that occasionally something subconsciously strikes me about somebody on the internet and I assume they are female. Usually it's just their name sounding feminine, but it's probably subtle linguistic choices too. I'm usually correct.

[Arra]

I find that occasionally something subconsciously strikes me about somebody on the internet and I assume they are female. Usually it's just their name sounding feminine, but it's probably subtle linguistic choices too. I'm usually correct. I get that too, but I'm usually wrong. I'll get the idea in my mind that someone is female. I don't know why it happens, but once it does, I continue to subconsciously consider them female no matter how much I remind myself they're male. Usually the writer of an article or something. This happens rarely.

[tommo]

I get that too, but I'm usually wrong. I'll get the idea in my mind that someone is female. I don't know why it happens, but once it does, I continue to subconsciously consider them female no matter how much I remind myself they're male. Usually the writer of an article or something. This happens rarely. Same with me, so from then on I assume they're gay.