Women and Road Maps - INTUITION?

by Guy John Ruston

It doesn’t happen often at my age. I learned something yesterday. I discovered that my wife and I are not the only ones to discuss... okay, argue about map reading while cruising the highways and byways of America.

Example: One winter’s day, we were, as far as I know, somewhere in the far north of New York State near the metropolis of Newton Falls. That’s like being near Sredne Koylmsk, Siberia, except we had no borscht aboard.

The skies were heavy with snow-filled clouds. The hidden sun was about to pack it in for the day.

We came to a T-junction.

“Which way?” I asked my lovely navigator.

There followed desperate scanning of the map. Then came the uncertain reply, “Probably to the right.” I have forgotten what soft, kind thing I said. Whatever it was, it didn’t meet with Navigator’s complete approval. Indeed, she gave me to understand that henceforth and forevermore I would do my own navigation. I did turn to the right.

In minutes we were on Newton Fall’s main drag—and not too soon. As the sun set, the skies opened up. But, we knew where we were.

Now, my beloved is brilliant at bargaining, managing a small business, gourmet cooking, kid-raising and a host of other difficult things. She does not, though, seem to be able to relate to road maps—not like I do.

I have wondered about this for many a day. Yesterday at a garage sale I found Time—not on gilded wings—but in a pile of magazines, and bought it for two bits. In an old copy I saw an article, “Sizing Up the Sexes.” And in it there was a remarkable statement: “Whether men read maps better is unclear, but they do excel at thinking in three dimensions.”

Well, I’m not sure what the hell that means, but I say that if men are that good at three-dimensional thinking, they should be even better in two dimensions. So, it follows that men read maps better than women.

I recently read something by Dr. Joyce Brothers that, frankly, I do not see as pertinent. I mention it only because my former navigator insists on it. The well-known psychologist wrote that men do not like to ask for directions. The reason? According to Dr. Brothers, deep in their souls or psyches, men see such asking as a sign of weakness.

She also acknowledged that men have a far better sense of direction.’ Then, of course, she had to spoil it by later adding that women’s intuition is for real. In other words, females can arrive at the correct solution to a problem without the conscious use of reasoning or understanding, or, I presume, without reference to road maps.

Well, at least I now know why I turned right at the T-junction that winter’s night near Newton Falls. My keen sense of direction told me we should.

My Beloved sees it differently. She says it was a matter of her intuition, plus a rare display of common sense on my part.

Alas, since that day in Northern N.Y., my former navigator refuses to intuit in the car. That is why, when our position is somewhat in doubt, we discuss the situation—okay, we argue. However, I am man enough to admit that I will not ask for directions. And why not?

I refuse to bother people with my little problems. Besides, I just won’t anyway. And that has nothing to do with my soul or psyche. Would my ex-navigator love me if I didn’t have some of my pride to hold on to?