In the continuing saga of the battle of the sexes, the following issue inevitably arises: Who has a higher tolerance for pain? Who does indeed? Some suggest women do. Women who suffer through childbirth have demonstrated an ability to withstand more pain. If any man argues this point, try passing a watermelon through your butt. QED right? In fact, there are clinical differences between the sexes that enable each gender to tolerate pain. Dr. Oz on Oprah did a segment on this and the findings suggest: Men's testosterone helps them with pain except when women are experiencing childbirth and are helped with the pain by release of extra estrogen.
Other research suggests biological differences between the sexes. It turns out women in fact have more nerve endings: 34 nerve fibers per square centimeter than men, who average 17. Thus, women have an ability to feel more pain sensations and do not benefit from testosterone to ameliorate pain and suffering. If you ask me, that kinda blows.
Don't even get me started on the things that women do on a day-to-day basis that falls under the category of discomfort let alone pain - under-wire bras, thongs, tweezing, waxing, high heels, botox, nose jobs, boob jobs, etc. - in the name of maintaining western societal definitions of femininity and beauty. Pah! Show me a guy willing to put up with any of that without whining like a baby.
While there will continue to be research and debate, my curiosity is satisfied. On a day-to-day basis, women have got the short end of the stick when it comes to physical pain.
Next time this topic comes up, I think I will discuss the other "pain" that is "le pain" or French bread.
Punchlines
Spotted owls are cute but deadly. Striped owls on the other hand...
...despite widely held beliefs... smell worse than raccoon farts.
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