Filters: Sex and Other Misconceptions 165
The discussion starts with the impact of the primary sex
organs, which do not only affect how we see our identity, but they
also affect how we think, move, and live. This is mainly through the
introduction of hormones to our systems, which starts in the womb.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all start as female. If doses
of testosterone later flood the fetus, the tissue that would have
become an ovary can descend to become a testicle. Some
researchers have documented that the length of man’s or woman’s
ring finger in comparison to the index finger will tell you how much
testosterone a person was exposed to as a fetus. People with longer
ring fingers theoretically were exposed to more testosterone in the
womb than others.
In my younger, higher risk-taking days, a female interrogator
once told me that I suffered from testosterone poisoning. The
implications are clear. Whether you measure it in broken bones or
the cost of car insurance, testosterone drives young males to take
more physical risks than young females. Jim McCormick, whose
expertise as a speaker, author, and coach is risk-taking, conducted
a study related to the risk inclination of various populations:
My research shows that men’s and women’s inclina-
tion to take social and creative risks are essentially identi-
cal. The greatest difference in risk inclination between men
and women is in physical risks, with men noticeably more
comfortable with physical risks.
The two types of risks for which women indicate a
greater risk inclination than men are relationship risks and
emotional risks. Of note is that women’s general risk incli-
nation increases for many women once they are beyond
childbearing age.