Men are likely to have the uppermost hand than women when holding hands; but who has the dirtier hand?
Photo from photoXpress
Researcher Mark S. Chapell and his pals took the burden to observe 15,008 couples with holding hand activities. It’s true, men has the uppermost hand. And it may be that men initiate the act of touch.
Touch has a power. In the study of Coan, Schaefer and Davidson, a woman was given mild electric shocks to observe her experience of pain and fear through MRI. At first, pain and fear was prominent. When a laboratory team member held her hand, the pain is still evident but fear diminishes. When the woman’s partner held her hand, the MRI shows that her brain calmed down remarkably.
Holding a woman’s hand is simple, seemingly vain, but it’s an easy way to make her at ease amidst pain and stress. Plus, it’s a romantic gesture too.
A man to man holding hand would raise brows in many societies; but in Afghanistan, it is expected. It shows affection for the men without the sexual association. And in times that you didn’t do that, it shows aversion as if you’re spacing yourself away from the other man.
Holding hands is dirtier than you thought. Tennessee senators passed a new bill claiming that holding hands and kissing are gateways to intercourse. The bill, which blocks sex education, aims to reduce the tipping numbers of the young engaging the activity – 27% of middle school students in Memphis City have had sex.
People from University of Colorado studied hands of men and women, and women’s hands are dirtier! Women “have a much ‘greater diversity’ of bacteria on their hands than men, and a higher number of innate bacteria living under the skin that can’t be washed away” (Noble, 2008). Interesting.. How did that happen?
What do you feel when you hold hands?
Sources:Lending a Hand; Psychological Science
Why Arab Men Hold Hands; The New York Times
Men and Women Holding Hands; Ammons Scientific
Holding Hands Is Dirtier Than You Thought; YourTango
Moment Matters 
I have always enjoyed ice skating, the one exercise where holding hands is natural.
The remark about holding hands leading to sex reminds me of why we have corn flakes and graham crackers. The inventors believed that plain boring foods would curb sex drives. Of course we know how well that worked out.
I can see how holding hands helps to give strength during times of fear or pain, but how does not having sex education avoid the issue of children having sex?
Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something
I think you’ll understand
When I say that something
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
Oh please say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
You’ll let me hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
And when I touch you I feel happy inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide
Yeah, you got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I say that something
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
And when I touch you I feel happy inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide, I can’t hide, I can’t hide
Yeah, you got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I feel that something
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
I want to hold your hand
Womens hands dirtier than mens – not suprising! I bet it is because there is, on average, a wider variety in their every day activity – for example, my husband goes to work in his office and stays there much of the day. I take a child to school, visit a supermarket, go to a toddler group, walk a dog, clean the house, do a bit of gardening etc.
Lovely to ehar about the men of Afghanistan!
My husband and I only hold hands a certain way. Using the other hand feels all wrong and always has:) he does have the upper hand more to do with height and hand side IMO.
Women hands more dirty – I think that’s true – because we have to deal with more shit then men does, with shopping, handling small kids, dust and dirt around the house – dirty laundry. Also after years with dealing with travelling customers – ladies washrooms are always in a worst state then men’s – for some reason.
They did a test in UK a couple of years ago – they tested a bowl of peanuts on a pub’s bar counter – mostly men eating from them it there was over 120 different urine sample in the nuts.
First I must agree with Viveka. When I was a teen I had a job cleaning the concession stand of a drive-in theater; what a mess the women’s room was, enough said on that subject.
Now on the main theme of this post; I often hold hands with myself. It is a bit narcissistic but quite calming. It never leads to sex and it keeps my peanut bowl free of others – – – well – – – you know! I must admit though, that I only do this behind my own back and while standing “At Ease” on the parade ground. I hope the sarge doesn’t catch me.
I don’t ever really have my hand held, but I’d love to. It shows me that people care. It helps me to feel like I can open up to more people, as I am someone who is not very social and I am shy most of the time and afraid to open up to people.
Interesting post Justin……my husband and I hold hands often and his is usually the uppermost……….not surprised that women’s hands are dirtier because we tend to handle a wider diversity of tasks that expose us to a wider diversity of surfaces…….blog on :)………shalom!…….Kim
I think the person who usually has the upper hand is the taller one. When I hold my nephew’s hand, mine is on top. But when I hold my husband’s hand or someone’s hand at church, mine is on the bottom. I’m only 4’11” so just about everyone is taller than me. 😉