A recent scientific study has reached an "evolutionary" explanation for the reason women tend to feel colder than men. Researchers found that males and females perceive temperature differently due to an internal evolutionary difference in their heat-sensing systems, which is linked to reproductive processes. The study revealed that this trait exists in many species, such as birds and mammals, where females prefer a warmer environment while males favor cooler surroundings.
Dr. Eran Levin from Tel Aviv University stated, "Men and women feel temperature differently. This difference in thermal sensation is not just for the sake of arguing with our partners about the air conditioning; rather, from an evolutionary perspective, it is supposed to pull couples apart so each can enjoy some peace and quiet."
He explained, "Our study showed that this phenomenon is not unique to humans—among many bird and mammal species, females prefer a warmer environment than males, and in certain situations, these preferences can lead to gender segregation."
Additionally, he noted that this phenomenon is linked to other traits observed in animals and humans. For example, females are more likely to cluster together for warmth while males maintain greater distances and avoid contact with one another. In migratory bird species, males winter in cooler areas than females, who avoid dryness. Female bats tend to gather in a warm corner, while males prefer to stay in a drafty passage.
Among many mammals, even in species that live in pairs or mixed groups throughout their lives, males prefer shade while females favor sunlight, or males climb to mountain tops while females remain in valleys.
The study, published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, suggested that the segregation between males and females reduces competition for resources in the surrounding environment and keeps aggressive males away, thereby protecting offspring. Dr. Levin noted that this difference in heat-sensing mechanisms between females and males is similar to the known differences in pain sensations experienced by both genders, influenced by variations in the neural mechanisms responsible for sensation as well as hormonal differences between males and females.
