Key to insight? Speak your mind ... and then let others speak theirs

It’s scientifically proven that women and men’s brains are wired differently. Research suggests the male brain has fewer connections across the two hemispheres, while in a female brain they are more inter-connected. As a result men and women have different strengths.

Men are better at spacial awareness. Women are better at recognising faces. Men have a better sense of direction. The female brain is better at social cognition and verbal communication.

It’s this ability to talk and empathise which I see as our greatest gift and is why shows like Loose Women are so successful (being replicated across the pond too).

Not only do we like to talk, we like to listen to other women talking about their experiences too.The Loose Women format is being played out in coffee shops, bars and living rooms across the globe – a group of friends sharing their thoughts and fears.

But social and cultural norms have changed beyond recognition since the show first started 20 years ago.And Loose Women regular Coleen Nolan says voicing your opinion is a much riskier business.

On pages 6&7, she tells us: “The problem with social media is 90% of the people literally saying they were going to kill me hadn’t even watched the show.”

She admits to holding back and sanitising her views out of fear. It’s a shame more and more people feel this way. Maybe if we listened more to other people’s perspective we would gain a greater insight into what it means to be human.

And if you still don’t agree? Then argue your point – because maybe you have something to teach others.