Why do women cry?

Christie Wilcox’s “Why Do Women Cry?” talks about the effect of women’s tears on men’s physiological responses, while countering an article that Wilcox recently read. A science blogger by the name of Brian Alexander recently wrote an article stating that tears drive men away. Wilcox was insulted by this statement so she decided to write a blog post to counter his statements. She makes sure that she explains all the scientific facts well so that her readers can understand. Wilcox spends time on each topic, such as what chemicals tears produce and what effects did the tears have on men during the trials, so that her readers can understand what these facts were talking about. She belittles Alexander for being simple-minded, and not understand that women don’t cry to drive men away, but to ask for help. Tears produce a chemical called prolactin, which is a hormone that promotes a nurturing nature. It is an evolutionary development to calm aggressive men. Wilcox says that women don’t cry to drive men away, that doesn’t promote survival, which is what evolution helps species with. Women cry when they’re asking for help.

This essay is currently the best essay I have read so far. The humor and sarcasm is very present in her blog post. It’s very entertaining to read, and it also promotes learning too. “The sarcastic bitch in me just couldn’t help but think Why THANK YOU Brian! I’ve been going about this all wrong. When I want to get some from my honey, I focus all my thoughts on my dead dog or my great grandma and cry as hard as I can. No WONDER it isn’t working” (Wilcox); this section is a great example of why this blog post was so great to read. It’s entertaining. Wilcox uses an extremely casual tone while talking to her readers, which produces a more human-like tone in her essay. It makes me feel  like I’m not reading from another robot with the traditional method of writing, but from an actual human who has her own voice and independence. This essay was a great read, and the humor and sarcasm in it was top-notch.

The Shyest Person In the World

Alright, I take the title back. Barbara Smuts is by no means the shyest person in the world. You have to be pretty bold to share such a strange experience and not act phased by it or embarrassed in the slightest. Recorded by the Podcast, Barbara Smuts shares a bit of her two year experience studying Baboons in Africa. Rather then study afar, Smuts decided to get even closer to the pack of baboons she was studying. Day by day she managed to gain ground to a point where the baboons become tolerant to another social animal near them. In doing so Smuts noticed something rather interesting in how the baboons behaved in her presence. The interesting thing was nothing at all. They seemed almost un-phased by her presence and accepted her as no threat. Much like how she compares humans to baboons in her essay “Apes of Wrath”, she draws on yet another comparison. As we evolved into societies imaginary barriers were formed, separating in more ways then one. Yet compared to baboons, these social and physical barriers do not seem to exist if not needed. Take for example how Smuts mentioned her experience in the abandoned fisher’s camp to avoid the rain. Before she noticed it she was surrounded baboons that had the same idea for shelter as she did. no fuse was made on her entry or the entire time she stayed.

I found this recorded entry easier to relate to then her other entry. I agree with what Smuts is saying here. Although we may have evolved socially above baboons or other species, we seemed to have regressed a bit when it comes to unity.  Not only are we quick to judge, individualize, and separate but we also do not act like a community. Although this is a outrageous statement to make after hearing about baboons, ask yourself; what would you do if you saw someone very noticeably different around you.