YUGANSH BANSAL

SCU ID- W1166907

ASSIGNMENT #1
(Pre-course Reading & Response Paper)
PAPER 1

Greatest learning from the Reading 1B:

Closing the gender gap-handbook gives a brief overview on a very
appreciative statement Do unto others as they would like
done unto them. This statement is certainly my greatest
learning from the handbook as it clearly states that everyone
should be treated in the same way we expect ourselves to be
treated with. By treating people as they want to be treated will
result in respecting differences as well similarities. Different
people have different opinions and perspectives towards doing a
particular task. Hence, it is a responsibility of every single
individual to understand these differences and act in a way that
maximizes the value of those differences. Different genders can
have different perspectives but neither of the perspective is
superior from the other. Both are equal and fair. Hence, both
differences are equally respected and valued. This results in
closing the gender gap i.e. reducing the disparity between the
status of men and women.

Greatest learning from the Reading 1A:

A brilliant finding that caught my attention in this reading was to
know how a male and a female brain works differently. I read the
CBC experiment, mentioned in the book, with a great zeal. When
the results of this experiment were compared to the brain science
logics, it provided a good explanation on how a male & female
brain works differently. The brain scan results of a human can
easily identify its gender. For example, female have more P
ganglion cells that see color and fine details and male have more

YUGANSH BANSAL
SCU ID- W1166907
M ganglion cells which more easily see physical motion of objects.
Theories and findings like this are fascinating when we apply
them to the real-life experiences and examples. Hence, my
greatest learning in this reading was the application of theoretical
approach into the practical world.

PAPER 2 What I want to discuss in the class !

Can the brain be re-programmed for gender ?
The above was one of the question mentioned in the book
and I am also curious to explore its answer. There is a
concept of plasticity of a human brain which means that a
brain can be programmed accordingly regardless of its
male/female characteristics. Theoretically, it should be
possible (when one gender lives in another genders
environment) but the practical experiments have shown
non-plastic nature of a human brain. How can we explain
this ambiguity ?
Another fact that struck my mind is that, we know that
inheritance from parents is a biggest biological
phenomenon. If a male/boy is born and he inherited more
percentage of his mothers traits than his father, then on
what basis can we judge the gender of the boys brain ?
Will that result in a bridge brain (as mentioned in the
book-one gender brain acts like another).

YUGANSH BANSAL
SCU ID- W1166907

PAPER 3 Differences between Reading 1A and

Reading 1B
Reading 1A provides a profound understanding of the gender of
a human being i.e. the male or female characteristics of a human
brain. It also tells about how a men or a women lead differently
and how their brain works differently. On the basis of the results
of brain science, these differences have been identified and then
compared.
HOWEVER
Reading 1B primarily concentrates on finding possible ways to
reduce the differences between the status of men and women.
Since, different genders have different perspectives, neither of
the perspective must be superior from the other. Hence, the
ultimate goal of this reading is the creation of new ideas through
utilization of all perspectives.
CONCLUSION - Reading 1A describes, how and why the male
and female brains are different and on the other hand, Reading
1B asks us to accept those differences and give them equal
respect.

YUGANSH BANSAL
SCU ID- W1166907

PAPER 4 What I would like to get out of the class

This class presents an outstanding concept of identifying gender
of a human being through brain science. The outputs indicates
differences in brain functioning which results in different
perspectives and behavior of a male and a female. Furthermore,
this class also focusses on accepting those differences by giving
equal respect and credit to either of the perspectives.
I would really like to understand a theoretical version of this
concept i.e. the concept of brain science and then relate it to
several real-life examples. In other words, I want to experience a
practical knowledge on how this fruitful concept works.