The Uncomfortable Science Of Sex Differences - Steve Stewart-Williams - #1120 episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 6, 2026 · 2H 33M

The Uncomfortable Science Of Sex Differences - Steve Stewart-Williams - #1120

from Modern Wisdom · host Chris Williamson

Steve Stewart-Williams is an evolutionary psychologist, a professor, and an author. Why is it so difficult to talk about the differences between men and women today? It's important to recognize that men and women deserve equal respect and opportunity, but that does not mean they are exactly the same. There are differences between the sexes that can be meaningful, valuable, and even beautiful. So what are those differences, and why has discussing them become so polarising? Expect to learn why talking about sex differences is so controversial, what the actual definition of sex is, why there are challenges to the binary idea of sex, the largest sex differences between men and women, how sex differences reveal themselves via personality, the danger of denying and/or not respecting the differences in sex, and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠⁠ Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com Timestamps: (00:00) Why Sex Differences Are So Controversial (02:07) Why Sex Differences Matter (07:55) What Actually Is Sex? (13:21) Biology vs Society: What Shapes Sex Differences? (19:50) How Much Do Parents Impact Sex Differences? (21:37) The Gender Equality Paradox (26:39) The Top Difference Between Men and Women (29:02) What Is the Biggest Sex Difference? (39:44) Is Parental Investment Damaging? (42:18) Do Men Have Greater Reproductive Success? (50:14) The Hidden Motivations Behind Behaviour (54:34) Are Human Sex Differences Unique? (01:00:07) Is It All About Reproducing? (01:03:20) Why Women Prefer Reading Porn (01:11:44) Are Men and Women Compromising on Sex? (01:14:13) How Similar Are Male and Female Mate Preferences? (01:16:55) How Status and Wealth Shape Attraction (01:21:55) Would Women Sleep With Their Ideal Sperm Donor? (01:29:21) Why Are Women Attracted to Dangerous Men? (01:37:34) Is Height Really That Important? (01:40:25) Do Men Actually Talk More Than Women? (01:46:54) Why Do Men Choose to Be Sexually Violent? (01:52:11) Are Women Naturally More Nurturing? (01:58:59) Who Gets More Jealous in Relationships? (02:03:30) The Biggest Personality Differences Between Men and Women (02:13:25) Are Cognitive Sex Differences Real? (02:16:55) Why Women Outlive Men (02:23:34) Why Mental Health Differs Between the Sexes (02:26:21) What Happens When We Deny Sex Differences? (02:29:53) The Cost of Exaggerating Sex Differences (02:32:33) Where to Find Steve Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠⁠ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠⁠ Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠ #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠ #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠ - Get In Touch: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/contact⁠⁠ - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Stewart-Williams is an evolutionary psychologist, a professor, and an author. Why is it so difficult to talk about the differences between men and women today? It's important to recognize that men and women deserve equal respect and opportunity, but that does not mean they are exactly the same. There are differences between the sexes that can be meaningful, valuable, and even beautiful. So what are those differences, and why has discussing them become so polarising? Expect to learn why talking about sex differences is so controversial, what the actual definition of sex is, why there are challenges to the binary idea of sex, the largest sex differences between men and women, how sex differences reveal themselves via personality, the danger of denying and/or not respecting the differences in sex, and much more… Sponsors: See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/deals⁠⁠ Get a free bottle of D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, and more when you first subscribe at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com Timestamps: (00:00) Why Sex Differences Are So Controversial (02:07) Why Sex Differences Matter (07:55) What Actually Is Sex? (13:21) Biology vs Society: What Shapes Sex Differences? (19:50) How Much Do Parents Impact Sex Differences? (21:37) The Gender Equality Paradox (26:39) The Top Difference Between Men and Women (29:02) What Is the Biggest Sex Difference? (39:44) Is Parental Investment Damaging? (42:18) Do Men Have Greater Reproductive Success? (50:14) The Hidden Motivations Behind Behaviour (54:34) Are Human Sex Differences Unique? (01:00:07) Is It All About Reproducing? (01:03:20) Why Women Prefer Reading Porn (01:11:44) Are Men and Women Compromising on Sex? (01:14:13) How Similar Are Male and Female Mate Preferences? (01:16:55) How Status and Wealth Shape Attraction (01:21:55) Would Women Sleep With Their Ideal Sperm Donor? (01:29:21) Why Are Women Attracted to Dangerous Men? (01:37:34) Is Height Really That Important? (01:40:25) Do Men Actually Talk More Than Women? (01:46:54) Why Do Men Choose to Be Sexually Violent? (01:52:11) Are Women Naturally More Nurturing? (01:58:59) Who Gets More Jealous in Relationships? (02:03:30) The Biggest Personality Differences Between Men and Women (02:13:25) Are Cognitive Sex Differences Real? (02:16:55) Why Women Outlive Men (02:23:34) Why Mental Health Differs Between the Sexes (02:26:21) What Happens When We Deny Sex Differences? (02:29:53) The Cost of Exaggerating Sex Differences (02:32:33) Where to Find Steve Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/books⁠⁠ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: ⁠⁠https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom⁠⁠ Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins⁠⁠ #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson⁠⁠ #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: ⁠⁠lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman⁠⁠ - Get In Touch: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠https://chriswillx.com/contact⁠⁠ - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Uncomfortable Science Of Sex Differences - Steve Stewart-Williams - #1120

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This episode is 2 hours and 33 minutes long.

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This episode was published on July 6, 2026.

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Steve Stewart-Williams is an evolutionary psychologist, a professor, and an author. Why is it so difficult to talk about the differences between men and women today? It's important to recognize that men and women deserve equal respect and...

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