Trust your gut-erus

This piece by Emma Hodson-Jarvis on Linked In proves we’re not the only ones interested in Intuition this month. She’s a writer about gender equality, particularly in the workplace, and women’s health. I thought some of you might enjoy some of the science behind what we know to be true in (and of) our bodies.

Women’s Intuition is real!

And testosterone is the answer.

Women’s intuition is biological. Lower exposure to testosterone in the womb gives females a subconscious advantage.

Have you ever known something without having any actual evidence? You know that feeling when a friend hasn’t responded to you in a while and you just know something is wrong, you feel it in your body. Only to later find out that your friend was in trouble or had an emergency. Let’s just call it women’s intuition!

This feeling, for women, is a feeling as old as time. It’s often described as a woman’s ability to work out what others are feeling and gain deep insight into certain situations or people, all without relying on logical reasoning or evidence. Whilst it may sound like a mythical power, a recent study suggests that this actually might be a biological fact.

Scientists define intuition as thoughts that are processed unconsciously and automatically, requiring minimal cognitive effort. On the other hand, reflexive thought involves conscious analysis and demands more cognitive effort. Intuitive thoughts are often associated with emotions, while reflexive thoughts lean towards rationality.

The biology of intuition

Research from academics at the University of Granada suggests female intuition does have a biological component. Researchers measured individuals’ prenatal testosterone levels, by dividing the length of the forefinger by the length of the ring finger on the same hand. This ‘digital ratio’, indicates a person’s prenatal exposure to testosterone - that is the testosterone levels they received in the womb.

They then asked study participants to complete a Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), which helps researchers distinguish between intuitive and reflective thinking. The CRT is made up of three algebraic questions that, in order to answer correctly, individuals need to pause, reflect, and realise that their initial intuitive response was wrong. This test is able to predict a wide range of behaviours including someone’s intuitive responses.

Intuition and Testosterone

The results seem to show that women’s intuition is in fact real. What researchers are now positing is the role that testosterone plays in this intuition. The researchers suggest that those who receive more testosterone in the womb (typically men) are predisposed to adopt a more reflexive and less intuitive mindset. It may also increase men’s spatial abilities and create more "masculinised" brain structures which could all affect intuitive thinking patterns. All of which makes men far more likely to be intuitive.

This research aligns with previous studies, that prenatal exposure to testosterone has a significant impact on brain development. For example, men, who typically receive a higher amount of testosterone during foetal development, tend to be less risk-averse than women.

Women’s intuition is a power

Whilst we can all agree there are definite biological differences between male and female sexes, we must be careful with research like this, not to suggest that men are women’s rational counterparts. These theories tend to hark back to eerier days of misogyny. When notions of hysteria and irrationality prevented women from voting, working and socialising.

Especially the idea that women’s brains are far more complicated and less logical because they have a greater capacity for empathy. Of course, women possess just as much capacity for logical reasoning as men, and men are equally capable of possessing strong intuition.

Yet, our society has historically devalued women's innate tendencies, often favouring a more logical, traditionally male-oriented approach to decision-making. From a young age, women have been conditioned to perceive their intuition as a less reliable form of reasoning. Undesirable in comparison to logic. As a consequence, women have continually underestimated the value of this inherent subconscious ability.

This research should open space for women to take pride in their biological ability. To not silence their emotions, to feel the social cues they pick up on and to feel intuition in their bodies. This subconscious ability may be one of women’s greatest superpowers so why not tune into it?