People may deny or downplay hormonal differences between men and women for a variety of reasons, including:

1. Desire for Equality: Some people may fear that acknowledging biological differences could be used to justify gender inequality or reinforce harmful stereotypes. They might worry that discussing hormonal differences could perpetuate the idea that men and women are inherently better suited for different roles in society, which could undermine efforts toward gender equality.
2. Cultural or Ideological Beliefs: In some social or ideological circles, there’s a preference for emphasizing the social and cultural aspects of gender over biological differences. This can lead to an intentional minimization of biological factors to focus on how societal constructs shape gender roles and identities.
3. Misunderstanding of Science: People may lack an understanding of the complexity of biology and how hormonal differences manifest. For example, while men and women have different average levels of hormones like testosterone and estrogen, individuals vary greatly, and these differences don’t account for all behavioral or cognitive differences between genders.
4. Reaction to Misuse of Biological Arguments: Historically, biological arguments about gender differences have been used to justify discrimination, such as the idea that women are inherently less capable in certain domains. Some people might react to this by rejecting any discussion of biological differences to avoid opening the door to such arguments again.
5. Intersection with Gender Identity Debates: In discussions of transgender rights or gender identity, some people might downplay hormonal or biological differences to emphasize the fluidity of gender as a social construct. They may argue that gender identity is more important than biological sex when it comes to understanding individuals and their experiences.

Acknowledging hormonal differences doesn’t mean accepting gender inequality; rather, it provides a more nuanced understanding of the biological factors that can interact with social and cultural influences to shape human behavior and health.