but emotional intelligence is also about being able to relate your emotions to other people for greater empathy,

To Rand’s point, this is often used as a rationalization for gossip.

Men, in my limited experience as not-a-man, don’t talk much about their wives and families to other men. They brag a bit when the kid scores a touchdown or brings home an “A”, but most male conversation is about nonpersonal items. Work. Sports. Fishing. Etc.

I am not completely sure if that’s what you’re referring to is “low emotional intelligence”, but I have to say that I admire this about men; basically, I know that when I meet my husband’s friends and business associates, they don’t know anything about my own personal shortcomings or any problems we might have in our relationship or family. Men tend not to gossip.

Women? Oh, Sweet Jesus. I’ve had to stand up and walk away from groups of women because I REALLY DON’T WANT TO KNOW PERSONAL THINGS ABOUT THEIR HUSBANDS, and all they wanted to do was expose all their husband’s percieved shortcomings with their girlfriends and chat about them.

I don’t know how you operate personally, Jenny Asencio, but in my view, any woman who discusses personal matters about their husbands or boyfriends with their girlfriends is not displaying any sort of emotional intelligence whatsoever.

(Or, maybe it’s EMOTIONAL intelligence, but it certainly not SOCIAL intelligence, if that’s a “thing” in pop psychology these days.)