Are 18-25 year old females *really* more emotionally mature than males?

[DerekG]

I'm 22, and as somone who has long felt a disconnect with the majority of my peers (no matter what their gender may be), I've made quite a few detached and tempered observations on the discourse and habits of young men and women, and I'd have to say I've found little credence in the assertion that the purportedly "fairer sex" is any more emotionally mature than the other.

Is there really a discrepancy in this age group? How significant is the culture factor? And, if so, has said cultural gulf closed over time?

[Spinzonner]

1. How would you define "Emotional MAturity" ?

[DerekG]

11. My definition

To strive to be emotionally mature is the refusal to be held hostage by our myriad affections--I do not speak of conquering one's passions (who can do that?) but to rein them in, so one's concerns are centered less on the self and more on the other, on the community. It's about transcending the trappings of the child.

[Spinzonner]

12. Well, that seems centered on Narcissism

which is part of the picture and a characteristic of adolescence (but not necessarily defining) but I think that makes your definition a bit narrowly focused.

[kitkatrose]

2. I'm far more mature than my age-mates, but then

I'm strange. :P In that age group, everybody's silly for a good part of the time, which makes for limited conversation and interaction for me. In my experience, girls will get their shit together sooner than men, but they also play stupid games longer. It just depends on what you mean by emotional maturity. I personally think no one's as mature as they think they are, except for me. ;)

[LostInAnomie]

3. Nope

Just call them fat and you'll see what I mean.

Flame away chubbies.

[DS1]

7. Ironically, your post proves the point

;-)

[LostInAnomie]

8. Ha Ha, good point...

...Fatty.

[SoCalDem]

4. 26 is supposedly the "new 18", so it might not matter

More and more young people are finishing college and finding out that their income does not stretch far enough for "luxuries" such as :

rent
food
auto expenses
utilities


so they are not leaving the nest as early as kids once did.. I would suspect too, that after a quarter century or so of being "someone's kid", it's harder to grow up and be an adult.. I know 30-35 yr olds who are still getting financial aid from their "not rich" parents..

I grew up fast..left home with $14 in my checking account, a gas credit card with a $200 limit, my cat, my clothes, my tv...and moved 300 miles from home with no job, and no place to live.. I was 19..

Married at 20....been married for 35 years next month..

We never lived closer than 300 miles to any grandparent, so we never even had a "free" babysitter:)

I think kids really are different these days.. Young people I know are less adventurous and "need" more stuff..:shrug:

[plcdude]

5. the short answer

imho and experience as a college instructor is yes they are and it isn't even close.

[jswordy]

6. I dunno...send over half a dozen and I'll check 'em out.

Which, uh, I guess kinda answers yer question, right? Heh.

[coloradodem2005]

9. No.

I think that women play a lot of games and they play them a lot longer than most guys would play them. But to me, the bottom line is that both genders are equally immature, but in different ways.

Furthermore, I think if an individual thinks and says that they are mature, that makes them even more immature.

[fit4life]

10. Of course they are.

Haven't you seen those "Girls Gone Wild" commercials that prove it? Maybe you just don't stay up late enough to see those... ;)

I don't think either gender has a lock on emotional maturity.

[Fenris]

13. I'll tell you when I stop laughing.

Okay. No. No they are not.