Are all families like this? (The women keep contact)

If it was left to my husband nobody would receive a birthday or Christmas card.
He died two years ago and in spite of that I wish he was still here!!

I think it's very common. My dh is one of several boys, and they had never bothered about birthdays cards etc. anyway, so I didn't have to either, except for his parents. There was always a lot more contact and communication in my girl-heavy family. I used to feel sorry for my lovely MiL sometimes, I think she was so glad to have someone to discuss new kitchen curtains with, who might actually be interested!

As the youngest of four brothers (3 surviving) I feel particularly qualified to comment on this thread. One of my brothers lives about 3 miles away, one about 230 miles away, and the family of my late oldest brother also over 200 miles away. I don't feel (and never have felt) any need to maintain contact with my brothers on a social level. I have not seen the brother who 3 miles away since Christmas and the one who lives "Ooop North" I haven't physically seen for about three years. It is not that we bear each other any animosity - simply that we move in different orbits.

I know that each of them is only a phone-call away. If I needed either of them I would ring them and I know that they would come to me. Likewise if they needed me, they would ring.

My wife, however, keeps contact with her three sisters-in-law, so the family contact does flow through her. Interestingly, she also keeps contact with her own cousins, 2nd cousins, and some "cousins" whose actual relationship is so tenuous that she can't even tell me exactly what relation they are!

So to answer the OP's point, yes I think it is a gender thing.

My granny, on hearing that a mother or grandmother had died, would always say, " Ah, that's another home without a heart".
I think if there are daughters they're likely to have a more " family" mindset than sons.

Horses for courses? I made sure I did the Christmas cards with my DH which kept him in touch with friends. I organise the sports teams, dinners etc. But as for keeping family together, my uncle is the driving force for a disparate family with a non-funeral/marriage get together this year. However this is partly because he feels he's the paterfamilias. I also suspect FB replaces the normal glue for those under 35.

Absolutely!

Oh Battersea?

My deepest sympathies, Battersea. (((Hugs)))