First, I truly apologize for my delay in response. Work projects meant I really was not online, and then Mother's Day was coming up. I tried (failed) to be prepared for that.

Anyway, I do like the article. In the US we really do not have to apply for high school. I would imagine if we did, we might have a similar result. Especially since 9th grade is one of the years where defining yourself based on your peers is huge, and that includes gender.

Before going on, I will add that I have studied clinical psychologists. In fact, I've studied in good depth both sides of this topic because my Bachelor's is in Applied Psychology. Where I landed on the topic was more of a Myers-Briggs scope. There are a few other psychologists I would also add in, but would have to find the right book to pull those names.

Not that gender never plays a role, but I like the focus of personality based on a combination of strengths and weaknesses: here for Myers-Briggs and personality types here. The different types are not based on gender, but perspective of the world. Not that it is an "end all" for how a person is, but I do tend to favor that approach in psychology. I'm an INTJ :)

I think gender should be a factor when looking at things, but as a whole I think society has shaped gender roles. For example, pink used to be the color for boys but we now associate it with females. Some things I think society defines based on gender when it would not otherwise be that way. IE - Men are head of household. There are plenty of societies where the woman is seen as the strong leader. Some examples in this snippet and a few more here (a few repeat I believe).

People are over sensitive in our society about it, and I am definitely not. LOL. I am critical of whether it is gender tied usually when people say sentences like "girls tend to...". I often wonder if it has anything truly to do with the female makeup, or if nurture of a society created the association. :)