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Thinker vs Feeler: Influence of Gender Roles

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Men think with their heads; women with their hearts.

That’s the stereotype that most people have come to accept as common knowledge. While it is true that women are generally more empathetic and compassionate, that does not necessarily make them Feelers. The same applies for men. Although they tend to be more aggressive and ambitious, that does not make them Thinkers.

So why do people think that way? Well, at the root of it all, Feelers are wrongly associated with feminine traits and Thinkers with masculine traits. This misconception is further compounded by the fact that most societies impose gender roles on individuals. For example, in many cultures, women are encouraged to express their feelings freely, whereas men are expected to hide their emotions.

Of course, there is no denying that inherent differences exist between men and women. But the fact is, societal expectations greatly mold the way we behave, especially when harsh consequences await those who do not fit squarely into traditional gender roles. More often than not, women who are logical and assertive are labeled as bossy, while men who are friendly and agreeable tend to be seen as weak.

With such societal pressures in place, it’s no wonder so many people are willing to identify with behaviors that aren’t natural to them, simply to fit in. This can be compared to forcing a left-handed child to write with their right hand, despite the fact that it is unnatural for them. It is disheartening, as when individuals suppress these integral parts of themselves, they also inadvertently hinder themselves from realizing their fullest potential in life.

The widespread misconception of Thinkers and Feelers, coupled with suffocating societal expectations, has resulted in a jarring imbalance in the Feeler and Thinker dichotomy among men and women. According to a study conducted by the Statistic Brain Research Institute in 2017, 75.5% of women are categorized as Feelers. Sadly, these figures are not in the least surprising, given what we have talked about so far.

The truth is, our society’s obsession for boxing people up does a huge disservice to the vast diversity of human experience. It is unnerving to consider the impact that these labels have on our lives. Indirectly, they influence how we perceive ourselves and the way we interact with the world. Rather than empowering us to discover our authentic selves, this oversimplification of human behavior can end up causing more harm than good to our society as a whole.

Hence, it doesn’t help when Thinker and Feeler stereotypes are also propagated within the personality community itself. For instance, when browsing through Facebook, Reddit, Discord, or any personality page or forum, it is not uncommon to come across comics and memes that portray Thinkers as heartless, mean, and cruel figures; and Feelers as weak, irrational, and sensitive souls.

These posts, while intended to be fun and lighthearted, are actually no different than age-old adages such as “Boys don’t cry” or “Women are emotional creatures”. Because like it or not, they indirectly feed into the distorted idea of what it means to be a particular personality type. If you are like any other casual personality enthusiast, chances are you have liked or shared these posts around, thinking they were nothing more than harmless jokes.

But we don’t blame you, or anyone for that matter. These misguided beliefs are legacies that have been passed down for generations, and therefore, are deeply embedded within our cultural psyche. They have grown to become a part of our collective consciousness, making it challenging for us to recognize and break free from them.

That is exactly why it is so important to dismantle this misconception. By raising awareness among the typology community on what Thinkers and Feelers truly are, we hope to introduce a much more nuanced understanding of personality, so that people will no longer be mistyped based on gender stereotypes.

Above all, we should move towards a more inclusive and accepting society that values and celebrates individual differences, rather than forcing people into narrow boxes constructed from outdated beliefs. Through conscious effort, we will be able to shape a world where everyone can unlock their full potential, regardless of gender or any other superficial characteristic. Only then, can we truly appreciate the rich, complex mosaic that we call humanity.

---

Note: Not my article. Copied paste from elsewhere. But what do you guys think?

I've always wondered why I feel like a Thinker even though I would resonate with lots of "Feeler" options in personality tests.

Welp, I guess the above explains it all. Especially growing up in a standard "girls play with dolls while boys will be boys" environment, this really speaks a lot to me.

But I'm curious, what do others think, is this strictly only in an older Westerners context, or do other cultures share the same?
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But I'm curious, what do others think, is this strictly only in an older Westerners context, or do other cultures share the same?
I'm uncertain about how other cultures function,

But in my community, we are encouraged to not box ourselves with all the gender stereotypes, and being sensitive is one of them.

For men to cry and seek support, is actually a positive sign of great strength and wisdom.

For women to work and speak up for themselves, is actually a positive sign of independence and individualism.

So I am glad to see forums questioning and challenging these gender stereotypes. These conversations have the potential to reach out to individuals who are still living under the shadow of societal expectations.

Hope that it reaches out to more individuals. And thanks for sharing it. (y)
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Hey @Michaeldavxx , thanks for your reply!

May I know what culture or community you are from?

I'm very inspired that there are such communities that encourage such cultures in this world... Good on ya to have grown up in such a place. =)
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Eh

I am a female Estp.

I played with some dolls, dresses and make up. I also road around on my bike, inline skates, and played hoops frequently.

Frankly I usually preferred a clip board, drawing pad, camera, easel etc to usually make plans, direct, draw, teach, or document things. I am still alot like this as an adult in many ways. Even as a child I was highly adaptable and was seen at age 6 doing little lemonade stands, and later mowing lawns, then later planning businesses at age 12 I bought my own phone line I paid for monthly and posted ads in the paper and cold called people.

I do not believe much of this was influenced based on gender. As I did not know of any boys or girls on average making business end event plans. Most boys were bmxing or skateboarding. And most girls were playing with girlie stuff often. But there were many other atypical kids than those extreme polarized stereotypes also. For example I remember the girl who could never put a book down. The boy who loved insects and biology rather than sports.

Id say I like that the author may have the right intention with it. But the author themselves is sorta assuming people are in these boxes of two extremes, when reality is not everyone grows up around that kind of extreme.

While my estj mom cooked out of hobby and joy which can sometimes be associated as female like task by some, I grew up in a home where my mom wore the figurative pants, yet she always presented in demeanor and clothing as feminine. So I never grew up with a mom making me think certain tasks and activities were only for certain gender or something. She did annoyingly braid my hair which I always took out and she cared about our presentation but she was the same with our brother too so I do not think it was gender related.

I am still able to get my hands dirty and be a tomboy yet also be very girlie in many ways as well.

I have met chicks that were more tomboyish than me who were actually Fs. The one who stands out in particular is ESFJ. Just because she acted so butch did not make her not ESFJ, she still behaved in cognitive function like an ESFJ regardless of trying to act tough and wear boys clothes.

That is my two cents I sway between tomboy, girly, and androgynous depending on the day.

My hesitation with some of the gender boxing in obsessions sometimes is while it may be with the right intent to shed light on extremes so we are not stuck in the 1950s with june clever in heels and pearls, the other extreme is sorta extreme feminists who need to constantly shove down everyones throat everything a chick can do in ways that are weird. Like when everyone has to say they are a woman… doctor, ceo, owned business, engineer, whatever blah blah insteada just be a capable badass. Or by other contrast MRAs whining how boys have feelings too and are not allowed to cry and so now that is why they believe in following andrew tate or a pua sentiment because as they say women do not like nice guys wah wah. All that shit on either side sounds stupid as hell to me.

Anyways I do not think masculinity or femininity inherently have much to do with cognitive function order even if some traits can be associated more with certain types or functions.
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May I know what culture or community you are from?
Sorry can't provide much information, but I do hope that y'all can find one in the future. (y)
Sorry can't provide much information, but I do hope that y'all can find one in the future. (y)
No worries, I totally respect that of course. =)
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My hesitation with some of the gender boxing in obsessions sometimes is while it may be with the right intent to shed light on extremes so we are not stuck in the 1950s with june clever in heels and pearls, the other extreme is sorta extreme feminists who need to constantly shove down everyones throat everything a chick can do in ways that are weird. Like when everyone has to say they are a woman… doctor, ceo, owned business, engineer, whatever blah blah insteada just be a capable badass. Or by other contrast MRAs whining how boys have feelings too and are not allowed to cry and so now that is why they believe in following andrew tate or a pua sentiment because as they say women do not like nice guys wah wah. All that shit on either side sounds stupid as hell to me.
I totally agree with the extremities that is happening in many many many "organizations" or communities that people tend to align with.

If only everyone can try to understand one another better and meet each other halfway at least... that would be a good start.
Id say I like that the author may have the right intention with it. But the author themselves is sorta assuming people are in these boxes of two extremes, when reality is not everyone grows up around that kind of extreme.
I can see where you are coming from, but I do think the extremes are justifiable due to how in reality, that is mostly the case still.

We find ourselves confined by the influences of our parents, peers, society, religion, culture, and more. Even school teachers, who are meant to guide the younger generation, often exhibit such behaviors, struggling to break free from stereotypes.

But at least I'm glad, that you are experiencing and seeing it otherwise. It is inspiring to know that your mother has created a comfortable environment for you.
Extremes are realistic in nature, but they only exist because both ends of the extreme only see the worst in each other... not realizing they have 90% in common, or at least they kinda want the same goal. Sadly, I don't think it's that simple to break out of this way of thinking anytime soon, especially with legacy burdens and stereotypes going around.
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Men think with their heads; women with their hearts.

That’s the stereotype that most people have come to accept as common knowledge. While it is true that women are generally more empathetic and compassionate, that does not necessarily make them Feelers. The same applies for men. Although they tend to be more aggressive and ambitious, that does not make them Thinkers.

So why do people think that way? Well, at the root of it all, Feelers are wrongly associated with feminine traits and Thinkers with masculine traits. This misconception is further compounded by the fact that most societies impose gender roles on individuals. For example, in many cultures, women are encouraged to express their feelings freely, whereas men are expected to hide their emotions.

Of course, there is no denying that inherent differences exist between men and women. But the fact is, societal expectations greatly mold the way we behave, especially when harsh consequences await those who do not fit squarely into traditional gender roles. More often than not, women who are logical and assertive are labeled as bossy, while men who are friendly and agreeable tend to be seen as weak.

With such societal pressures in place, it’s no wonder so many people are willing to identify with behaviors that aren’t natural to them, simply to fit in. This can be compared to forcing a left-handed child to write with their right hand, despite the fact that it is unnatural for them. It is disheartening, as when individuals suppress these integral parts of themselves, they also inadvertently hinder themselves from realizing their fullest potential in life.

The widespread misconception of Thinkers and Feelers, coupled with suffocating societal expectations, has resulted in a jarring imbalance in the Feeler and Thinker dichotomy among men and women. According to a study conducted by the Statistic Brain Research Institute in 2017, 75.5% of women are categorized as Feelers. Sadly, these figures are not in the least surprising, given what we have talked about so far.

The truth is, our society’s obsession for boxing people up does a huge disservice to the vast diversity of human experience. It is unnerving to consider the impact that these labels have on our lives. Indirectly, they influence how we perceive ourselves and the way we interact with the world. Rather than empowering us to discover our authentic selves, this oversimplification of human behavior can end up causing more harm than good to our society as a whole.

Hence, it doesn’t help when Thinker and Feeler stereotypes are also propagated within the personality community itself. For instance, when browsing through Facebook, Reddit, Discord, or any personality page or forum, it is not uncommon to come across comics and memes that portray Thinkers as heartless, mean, and cruel figures; and Feelers as weak, irrational, and sensitive souls.

These posts, while intended to be fun and lighthearted, are actually no different than age-old adages such as “Boys don’t cry” or “Women are emotional creatures”. Because like it or not, they indirectly feed into the distorted idea of what it means to be a particular personality type. If you are like any other casual personality enthusiast, chances are you have liked or shared these posts around, thinking they were nothing more than harmless jokes.

But we don’t blame you, or anyone for that matter. These misguided beliefs are legacies that have been passed down for generations, and therefore, are deeply embedded within our cultural psyche. They have grown to become a part of our collective consciousness, making it challenging for us to recognize and break free from them.

That is exactly why it is so important to dismantle this misconception. By raising awareness among the typology community on what Thinkers and Feelers truly are, we hope to introduce a much more nuanced understanding of personality, so that people will no longer be mistyped based on gender stereotypes.

Above all, we should move towards a more inclusive and accepting society that values and celebrates individual differences, rather than forcing people into narrow boxes constructed from outdated beliefs. Through conscious effort, we will be able to shape a world where everyone can unlock their full potential, regardless of gender or any other superficial characteristic. Only then, can we truly appreciate the rich, complex mosaic that we call humanity.

---

Note: Not my article. Copied paste from elsewhere. But what do you guys think?

I've always wondered why I feel like a Thinker even though I would resonate with lots of "Feeler" options in personality tests.

Welp, I guess the above explains it all. Especially growing up in a standard "girls play with dolls while boys will be boys" environment, this really speaks a lot to me.

But I'm curious, what do others think, is this strictly only in an older Westerners context, or do other cultures share the same?
Wow! Where did you get this from Melindap?

I agree 100% with this. I'm from a culture where I never wanted to be a Feeler, because "boys should not cry and be a sissy feeler." And because of that, I've would never get a feeler type from a test when I was younger, because I actively chose to avoid the feeling options.

Over time, I really believed that I wasn't a Feeler, and was a Thinker dominant, because I was shaped that way by my environment.

And when I got older, I finally embraced what being a Feeler truly means. It doesn't mean that I was a sissy. It doesn't mean that I cannot use logic. It simply means that I prioritize feelings and my values over cold hard logic.

However, on the bright side, despite being a Feeler dominant, I've sharpened my logic since I was young. If it wasn't for my upbringing, I wouldn't be who I am today. Also, I probably wouldn't be as sharp with logic as I am right now.

I do hope more people realize the repressed parts of themselves, and gets in touch with their true self, breaking away from legacy burdens that come from generations before us.

Once again, do share where you got this from. :) Thanks!
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Sure, as a girlie I thought I wasn't Agreeable and Pleasant enough to be a F type and had a complex about it. I still get T results from tests. Ironically what helped was seeing the ruthlessness of some NF dudes.
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Statistically most women are indeed feelers and men thinkers.

Society teaches men feelers and women thinkers to fake normal. There is pretty strong societal pressure.

Most succeed.
Interesting question OP, but I don't know enough about other cultures to contribute much.
To understand and answer this question, we have to rewind back to the point where you're able to see root cause why psychological types exist after all. It's irrelevant to ask why both men and women can be either T or F because it's just one of the possible effects how this plays out :)

Reason what makes us so hard to see answer to given question is that we mostly look at typology from the wrong perspective - perspective that describes effects not the cause and fools people into assumptions like typology is something that exists on its own or just to entertain us, without a real reason to exist.

Lets try to focus on cause instead of effects.

I believe everyone agrees we as humanity are here to survive. We don't know why we are here yet, but we're equipped with survival instinct - which is why we have primary need to stay alive as species, at any cost. Everything else on top of that is just an irrelevant noise that clouds understanding why different types exist at all.

Big mistake comes from default assumption like our planet itself is always static so we don't need to protect ourselves against it (but we do). That's extreme extravert assumption, as being cognitively extraverted makes you believe you necessarily see actual reality. That's not necessarily the case st all - but it'd be too long to explain it right here :)

So our planet can change (whole climate and other factors, it can be overflooded or hit by comet) same way like our inner world can change when we're ill and our perceptions get distorted.

How would we know to watch each others back in actual reality if we didn't have people on Se-Ni axis?

How would we know some genetic disease that would take us all down, threats us from inside if we didn't have people on Si -Ne axis ?

How to resolve issues which resolutions come from connecting ideas by reasoning on intellectual level and there were no T people left?

How to resolve issues which resolutions come from connecting ideas by interpersonal reasoning when no F people were left?

And so on.

Now it becomes rather obvious that having all the variability above present within our species, we can watch each others back from any angle in order to survive and rebuild Community even after harshest disaster. It's a really well thought through system by nature, as in the end nothing else matters except survival :)

Now we reach one level up and see that only thing that makes women and men really different, is that women can't get pregnant alone and men can't give birth to a child. Again, think of it on species level not on single person level.

I don't see any connection why ability to give birth and ability to fertilize should have any need to be properties of F and T. It's very common mistake in type forums that cognitive traits get associated with properties or effects that don't conclude from given cognitive function.

Think about it and it should be pretty clear :)

Homework for readers: what cognitive functions you guess to be responsible for coming to this explanation I composed on the fly? I'm a guy but would a girl of same type not come to exactly the same conclusion?

Additional question: what do you think, what's the reason types aren't present equally?
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To understand and answer this question, we have to rewind back to the point where you're able to see root cause why psychological types exist after all. It's irrelevant to ask why both men and women can be either T or F because it's just one of the possible effects how this plays out :)

Reason what makes us so hard to see answer to given question is that we mostly look at typology from the wrong perspective - perspective that describes effects not the cause and fools people into assumptions like typology is something that exists on its own or just to entertain us, without a real reason to exist.

Lets try to focus on cause instead of effects.

I believe everyone agrees we as humanity are here to survive. We don't know why we are here yet, but we're equipped with survival instinct - which is why we have primary need to stay alive as species, at any cost. Everything else on top of that is just an irrelevant noise that clouds understanding why different types exist at all.

Big mistake comes from default assumption like our planet itself is always static so we don't need to protect ourselves against it (but we do). That's extreme extravert assumption, as being cognitively extraverted makes you believe you necessarily see actual reality. That's not necessarily the case st all - but it'd be too long to explain it right here :)

So our planet can change (whole climate and other factors, it can be overflooded or hit by comet) same way like our inner world can change when we're ill and our perceptions get distorted.

How would we know to watch each others back in actual reality if we didn't have people on Se-Ni axis?

How would we know some genetic disease that would take us all down, threats us from inside if we didn't have people on Si -Ne axis ?

How to resolve issues which resolutions come from connecting ideas by reasoning on intellectual level and there were no T people left?

How to resolve issues which resolutions come from connecting ideas by interpersonal reasoning when no F people were left?

And so on.

Now it becomes rather obvious that having all the variability above present within our species, we can watch each others back from any angle in order to survive and rebuild Community even after harshest disaster. It's a really well thought through system by nature, as in the end nothing else matters except survival :)

Now we reach one level up and see that only thing that makes women and men really different, is that women can't get pregnant alone and men can't give birth to a child. Again, think of it on species level not on single person level.

I don't see any connection why ability to give birth and ability to fertilize should have any need to be properties of F and T. It's very common mistake in type forums that cognitive traits get associated with properties or effects that don't conclude from given cognitive function.

Think about it and it should be pretty clear :)

Homework for readers: what cognitive functions you guess to be responsible for coming to this explanation I composed on the fly? I'm a guy but would a girl of same type not come to exactly the same conclusion?

Additional question: what do you think, what's the reason types aren't present equally?

Well. Men don't nurse babies very well. Women aren't as good at fighting or killing critters as men.
Women have evolved to be more social than men.
Men are more disagreeable.
Etc
Almost like women are better at the feels and men at being assholes.
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Well. Men don't nurse babies very well. Women aren't as good at fighting or killing critters as men.
Women have evolved to be more social than men.
Men are more disagreeable.
Etc
Almost like women are better at the feels and men at being assholes.
Misandrist.
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Men think with their heads
Oh is that what they say?
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Oh is that what they say?
I caught that. 😂🙃
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Sure, as a girlie I thought I wasn't Agreeable and Pleasant enough to be a F type and had a complex about it. I still get T results from tests. Ironically what helped was seeing the ruthlessness of some NF dudes.
I’ve never been a girlie girl but a tomboy. I would be thrown in the NF category (weirdly)and I’ve never figured out if both of these things makes T or F. 🙃
I’ve never been a girlie girl but a tomboy. I would be thrown in the NF category (weirdly)and I’ve never figured out if both of these things makes T or F. 🙃
I think being a tomboy is either
1) a completely natural part of being a girl, or
2) a response to being treated differently because you are a girl (i.e. being expected to play with dolls because one day, you'll be just so good at nursing babies!!! see comment above. And worse things.)
In either case, justified.
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