Educational Media Reviews Online

The narrator in the introduction to this 5 part DVD series inquires “Men and women: are we really the same? Does there have to be war if we are different?” To inform viewers of new research results, this documentary series explores five areas to highlight what researchers are discovering about the differences between men and women. The series examines the question of whether men and women are really different in regard to 1) language, 2) power and leadership, 3) emotion; 4) spatial abilities; and 5) sexuality and seduction. For each segment, there are challenges and/or exercises for male and female participants divided into groups by gender. Especially effective is the use of two analysts or consultants for each segment to provide commentary while the viewer observes how the men and women experience and express their approach for each of the challenges. The style and way of working by each group allows the analysts who include psychologists, psychiatrists, an anthropologist, a sociologist, therapists, and a management consultant to provide guidance and understanding. Their commentary is based on their astute observations while watching the participants in the various exercises and their knowledge of additional research to confirm the results of the exercises. In addition to this commentary there are comments from selected researchers in American, European, and Canadian universities who support the theories with demonstrations of related research they have reported.

The questions of difference are both answered in terms of biology and environment. The series also shows results of brain activity as evaluated from MRI tests which helps confirm the conclusions many researchers have reported. The series explores the role of hormones in men and women and the difference this can make in thinking, evaluating, and the ability to empathize.

Part of the format for each film includes brief transitions to vignettes with prehistoric men to demonstrate some evolutionary commentary but these scenes, although brief, seem out of context with the informative tone of each documentary. In like manner, there are other shifts in scenes to show humorous episodes with an imaginary husband and wife who appear to be models of the 1950’s demonstrating in a comical way the intent of the results of the research. This kind of shift does provide humor but sometimes the transition occurs too abruptly and diminishes the serious content of the commentary previously discussed. However, the series includes other transitions to older television shows or commercials to support the results of a particular challenge or exercise. These vignettes appear to be more effective when demonstrating a key concept from the documentary.

The series not only asks the pertinent questions but demonstrates with substantive research the answers that researchers have discovered. The series is comprehensive, includes thorough and extensive research studies, and demonstrates that there are differences in men and women. Some of these differences are demonstrated to be based in our biology, other differences from our culture and environment, and others so intertwined that it is difficult to separate whether it is biology or environment.

The amount of information impresses the viewer. The animated energetic introduction which is the same for each segment of the series allows a preview of the level of information to follow, while capturing the curiosity and interest of the viewer. Recommended for collections in psychology, sociology and gender studies.