what benefits them most

[pure fighting]

Hello
I wonder what the function of "what" in the following sentence is:

Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of what benefits them most, whereas women may approach the same dispute from the perspective of what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem—even if that means doing the boring work themselves.

Does it function as a object in a whole as well as the subject of the noun claanse (what benefits them most/what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem)?

 

[grassy]

X benefits them most.
X is the easiest and quickest way to reseolve the problem.

So what is X in those sentences: subject or object?

 

[lingobingo]

Does it function as a object in a whole as well as the subject of the noun claanse (what benefits them most/what's the easiest and quickest way to resolve the problem)?

Yes. In both cases, what is the subject of a noun clause that’s the object of the preposition of.

Both uses of what are as a pronoun meaning “whatever it is that”.

 

[pure fighting]

Got it! Thank you!! Then can I say "what" is the conjunction of the main clause and subordinate clause? I mean the conjunction of "Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of" and "benefits them most".

 

[lingobingo]

Got it! Thank you!! Then can I say "what" is the conjunction of the main clause and subordinate clause? I mean the conjunction of "Men are more likely to face that dispute from the perspective of" and "benefits them most".

No! I clearly said that what is a pronoun. The conjunction linking the two clauses is whereas.

 

[pure fighting]

No! I clearly said that what is a pronoun. The conjunction linking the two clauses is whereas.

Thanks a bunch! It's clear to me now!