I read two interesting, yet unrelated (or so I thought at first) articles that had to do with research--one in the Wall Street Journal about P&G and its investment in understanding how women feel about "bad hair days"; and one in the New York TImes about a New Zealand professor who had studied the effects of post-exercise fuel on subsequent performance among males in 2008 only to be approached by a group of females asking to be included.  Those results were published recently and differed dramatically from the first study.

Here's what's interesting to me.  P&G knows that women drive the shampoo purchase decision in the home, not only for themselves but also for their children and frequently their husband.  They also know that sales have been declining due the economy and they need to reverse that trend.  Studying women makes sense...business sense.

In the university study about exercise nutrition, it is unclear if a brand or company is behind the study.  It is quite clear that anyone in the sports nutrition space would be interested in the results.  That space sells to men and increasingly to women.  In fact, women are racing toward running in greater numbers than men, in part because it delivers speedy results, can be done anytime, anywhere and without much expense.  This has led to a rise in triathalon participation and its component part, cycling.  And with new studies out that show that even 5 minutes of cycling a day combined with fast walking or running for a total of 30 minutes can help women in their 30s and 40s avoid gaining the 20 pounds that most women average, more and more women will be embracing fitness and the fuel that keeps them going.

Perhaps in the future women won't have beg their way into scientific studies.  And when scientists and businesses better understand what makes men and women different yet equally valuable, no one will have to beg us to support their efforts.