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Gender Mosaic: Beyond the Myth of the Male and Female Brain
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With profound implications for our most foundational assumptions about gender, Gender Mosaic explains why there is no such thing as a male or female brain.
For generations, we've been taught that women and men differ in profound and important ways. Women are more sensitive and emotional, whereas men are more aggressive and sexual, because this or that region in the brains o ...more
For generations, we've been taught that women and men differ in profound and important ways. Women are more sensitive and emotional, whereas men are more aggressive and sexual, because this or that region in the brains o ...more
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Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
September 17th 2019
by Little, Brown Spark
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Start your review of Gender Mosaic: Beyond the Myth of the Male and Female Brain
Gender Mosaic is an extremely measured and accessibly written exploration into the myths that surround the concept of there being two separate types of brain, i.e. a male and a female brain.
The book aims to dispel the idea of binary gender indicating how it is purely a societal construct and using peer reviewed research explains why gender and sex should not be assumed to be implicitly linked. "Sex refers to the biological features that go with having male or female genitals and gender to the s ...more
The book aims to dispel the idea of binary gender indicating how it is purely a societal construct and using peer reviewed research explains why gender and sex should not be assumed to be implicitly linked. "Sex refers to the biological features that go with having male or female genitals and gender to the s ...more
A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
2 – Interesting, but I am concerned the veracity and objectivity of this book.
This is by far the most difficult review I’ve ever had to write and it took me hours and hours of research to get to a point where I was able to give this book a fair and unbiased critique.
I became interested in neurology while reading Robert Sapolsky’s “Behave.” Since then, I have been reading anything and ...more
2 – Interesting, but I am concerned the veracity and objectivity of this book.
This is by far the most difficult review I’ve ever had to write and it took me hours and hours of research to get to a point where I was able to give this book a fair and unbiased critique.
I became interested in neurology while reading Robert Sapolsky’s “Behave.” Since then, I have been reading anything and ...more
This was a very interesting little book. I have never felt I fit terribly well into gender categories myself. I'm not a special class or anything . . . I'm just not . . . girly. Giggling girls talking about makeup and hair and nail polish always seemed like aliens. Or, really, since there were lots of them and only one of me, clearly I was the alien. But I certainly didn't want to be a boy either--I'm not athletic and I don't like to play in the dirt. So . . . I'm an alien there too. I also get
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Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on September 17th, 2019.
This book was fantastic — one of the few I’ve read that managed to completely shift the way I thought about something because the clear evidence-based ideas made so much sense in an area that has been utterly confusing to me for a long time.
Beginning with scientific studies on the structure and function of brain compo ...more
This book was fantastic — one of the few I’ve read that managed to completely shift the way I thought about something because the clear evidence-based ideas made so much sense in an area that has been utterly confusing to me for a long time.
Beginning with scientific studies on the structure and function of brain compo ...more
I’m sure part of my frustration with this book stemmed from the fact that a lot of this information wasn’t new to me. If you don’t know anything about gender and its social construction, parts of it *might* make for an okay read. That said, this book really white-washed the brain and definitely felt late to the game.
Put another way: if you’re interested in the substance and would like a worthwhile recommendation, feel free to hit me up instead of reading this book.
Put another way: if you’re interested in the substance and would like a worthwhile recommendation, feel free to hit me up instead of reading this book.
Did you know that J.K. Rowling chose to sign Harry Potter with her initials, anticipating the possibility of the target audience of young boys not wanting to read a book written by a woman?
I think this is the coolest fact I learned with this book. Which is not even that cool... So, there you go.
Read the following quotes:
1. "The human brain is neither female nor male. Rather, it is a unique mosaic of features that continues to change throughout our life"
2. "The fact that gender is a myth doesn't ...more
I think this is the coolest fact I learned with this book. Which is not even that cool... So, there you go.
Read the following quotes:
1. "The human brain is neither female nor male. Rather, it is a unique mosaic of features that continues to change throughout our life"
2. "The fact that gender is a myth doesn't ...more
What a fascinating book! I really enjoyed this look at how everyone is made up of "feminine" and "masculine" components and that there truly is not "male brain" and "female brain." I especially loved how instead of just presenting this data, the author goes further and dissects the implications of this information on our society and how we raise/ talk to children. It's short, interesting, and definitely worth checking out!
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This book is ok. The first half is a fairly convincing argument for the idea that there aren’t “male” or “female” brains, but brains with a mosaic of traits. I guess the gist is that there ARE differences between male and female brains but they don’t add up to a MALE and FEMALE brain. The second half of the book consists of citation-free musings of gender and how we should be working towards a future in which “genitals are unimportant.” Meh. Unconvinced.
[I received a copy through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
That was pretty much preaching to the choir here, so I’ll admit my bias from the beginning—I’m absolutely not convinced, science or no science, that gender has very legitimate foundations, and that your genitals determine how you behave, what you like, who you are, and so on. It doesn’t make sense to me that so many people insist putting everybody in a tidy little “man OR woman” box (and when you stand out of the box, you’d ...more
That was pretty much preaching to the choir here, so I’ll admit my bias from the beginning—I’m absolutely not convinced, science or no science, that gender has very legitimate foundations, and that your genitals determine how you behave, what you like, who you are, and so on. It doesn’t make sense to me that so many people insist putting everybody in a tidy little “man OR woman” box (and when you stand out of the box, you’d ...more
I am conflicted about this book. I buy the argument that we are all mosaics of skills, attributes, aptitudes, predilections, and inclinations. That there is a greater range within a gender than there is a difference between genders. But my experience of my gender is more about how I relate to other people, and how I want them to relate to me. This author has spent her career testing whether the are gender based differences in societal roles and has not found a difference that has a distinctive s
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This work highlights the many biases and stereotypes of gender, and how gender inequity is still being touted utilizing brain science. The author argues that there is no such thing as a male or female brain. Mosaic features in every brain allow for a unique mixture of masculine and feminine traits. This work highlights how science has been manipulated and used to serve a social and political agenda of men being the superior sex. I think this work is interesting and discusses gender with the gend
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This is Nonfiction Science. I enjoy books in these particular genres. I just didn't enjoy this particular book. It was dry and even when I got to the end, I didn't feel like I had gained anything useful. I listened to the audio and that could have contributed to me being bored. It was simply read. So 2 stars.
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This is a perfectly fine book IF you skip the last few chapters.
Joel spends the first 3/4ths of this light and accessible book pointing to studies that debunk the myth of 'brain sex'. This is a much needed discussion these days; brain sex, never fully defeated in conservative circles, is being resurrected by the transgender movement to bolster the move into women's spaces and the silencing of women's voices.
But after doing all this work to disprove brain sex, Joel wraps up by informing us that ...more
Joel spends the first 3/4ths of this light and accessible book pointing to studies that debunk the myth of 'brain sex'. This is a much needed discussion these days; brain sex, never fully defeated in conservative circles, is being resurrected by the transgender movement to bolster the move into women's spaces and the silencing of women's voices.
But after doing all this work to disprove brain sex, Joel wraps up by informing us that ...more
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Gender Mosaic explores the myth that men and women have unique brain structures that create large differences between the sexes, and challenges the idea that there is a purely male brain and a purely female brain.
I specifically requested this ARC from Hachette because I have a huge interest in neuroscience. And gender issues are something that is increasingly topical, not just for women, but for transgendered individ ...more
Gender Mosaic explores the myth that men and women have unique brain structures that create large differences between the sexes, and challenges the idea that there is a purely male brain and a purely female brain.
I specifically requested this ARC from Hachette because I have a huge interest in neuroscience. And gender issues are something that is increasingly topical, not just for women, but for transgendered individ ...more
Gender Mosaic reads a bit like a dissertation (I'm sensing a theme with the books I read) and hypothesizes that brains are not singularly male or female, but that each brain is made up of a mosaic of characteristics, some male and some female.
Joel's argument is that while some characteristics may appear more frequently on the average men or women, using gender as a marker for interest or talent in specific areas is misguided because of each unique mosaic.
I liked her analysis on how gender differ ...more
Joel's argument is that while some characteristics may appear more frequently on the average men or women, using gender as a marker for interest or talent in specific areas is misguided because of each unique mosaic.
I liked her analysis on how gender differ ...more
Gender Mosaic is a fascinating read that dispels the myth of “male” and “female” brains arguing rather for “intersex” brains. This book is grounded in peer reviewed science. This book does not argue that there are not any sex differences in the brain but rather than each individuals brain is a mix of female and male patterns. The strongest part of this book to me was that it did not provide a one-sided review of the neuroscience research. The book clearly had a thesis arguing against a binary br
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This is a must-read for anyone trying to understand more about how our brain works and how gender stereotypes play a huge role in our upbringing and future life. Joel does a great job of explaining the neuroscience in a readable manner, and of explaining how the differences that male and female brains have are not enough to talk of masculinity vs femininity. But she goes further: she advocates for a gender-free world where we can all benefit by having more freedom of choice. Great text!
I've read a lot of books on gender and this one was by far my favourite. It had elements of all the books I've read and made a lot of sense. It was especially interesting on the nature versus nurture topic of gender, in that it's exceptionally hard to tell due to our ever prevalent gender bias we ALL have ingrained in us.
I know I'm going to try much harder to check myself. Making sure I'm not making comments or suggestions on bogus biases, especially onto young children. ...more
I know I'm going to try much harder to check myself. Making sure I'm not making comments or suggestions on bogus biases, especially onto young children. ...more
This short, dense book is fascinating. Everyone should read this!
Great and fascinating book on the complexity of gender, and the complexity of the human mind. Recommended for all humans.
More accurate rating: 8.5/10.
Another great book on the subject of gender and neurosexism!
This one is an interesting addition to the topic insofar as I think it might draw in (and convince) a wider array of people than something like The Gendered Brain by Gina Rippon (or even Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine), which could be read as slightly too "blank-slatist" for some people I suppose.
Gender Mosaic presents original research carried out by one of the authors, as well as research done by o ...more
Another great book on the subject of gender and neurosexism!
This one is an interesting addition to the topic insofar as I think it might draw in (and convince) a wider array of people than something like The Gendered Brain by Gina Rippon (or even Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine), which could be read as slightly too "blank-slatist" for some people I suppose.
Gender Mosaic presents original research carried out by one of the authors, as well as research done by o ...more
Joel's research suggests that our brains develop and respond to our environments in "masculine" and "feminine" ways in the sense that certain functions and responses are more common in men and others more common in women. She goes on to show that brain function does not always match up with physical sex (i.e., genitals do not determine whether an individual's brain will exhibit "masculine" or "feminine" traits). Moreover, our brains are constantly changing in response to external and internal fa
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Gosh, how clichés die hard! Is there such a thing as a male brain vs a female brain, or, should we talk instead about human brains? The authors, a neuroscientist helped by a science writer, are obviously (and rightfully!) opting for the second answer.
For those not ready to tackle the likes of Cordelia Fine or Gina Rippon, leading proponents of such theories yet those books, not matter how fascinating and engrossing, might be too in depth, highly researched and scientifically detailed (maybe a ta ...more
For those not ready to tackle the likes of Cordelia Fine or Gina Rippon, leading proponents of such theories yet those books, not matter how fascinating and engrossing, might be too in depth, highly researched and scientifically detailed (maybe a ta ...more
This is a fantastic book. It is one of the best books about sex, gender, biology, and the brain—and the social implications of these issues— that I have ever read. The writing is clear, captivating, and concise—and the content is groundbreaking. This is a visionary and brave book.
Most authors of books about sex, gender, biology, and the brain are preoccupied with documenting and explaining differences between men and women (or, in another camp, dismissing the existence of such differences altoge ...more
Most authors of books about sex, gender, biology, and the brain are preoccupied with documenting and explaining differences between men and women (or, in another camp, dismissing the existence of such differences altoge ...more
Very interesting
Not a big reader. Saw this book looking for a Christmas gift at Barnes and Noble and then later saw it was only $3.50 on Kindle so I purchased it. I only bought this book because I thought the topic was interesting of female vs male brains. I had no idea it what I was getting into. What I learned from reading this book is the gigantic societal norms that are placed on gender, and the impact that it has on people who have questioned their gender roles or sexuality since childhood ...more
Not a big reader. Saw this book looking for a Christmas gift at Barnes and Noble and then later saw it was only $3.50 on Kindle so I purchased it. I only bought this book because I thought the topic was interesting of female vs male brains. I had no idea it what I was getting into. What I learned from reading this book is the gigantic societal norms that are placed on gender, and the impact that it has on people who have questioned their gender roles or sexuality since childhood ...more
This is a fantastic read for anyone who is wondering what science has to say about the “female brain” and the “male brain” (spoiler: there are no such things, each brain has some female/feminine and some male/masculine attributes). The author is a highly accomplished neuroscientist and worked together with a journalist to make this book accessible and entertaining. You get high-quality science as well as personal anecdotes, easily understandable real-life examples, and some suggestions on how to
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Joel and (co-writer) Vishinski want us to see the labels "man" and "woman" is not opposites. They say “The binary model of the male and female …directs researchers to sex and gender…and away from discovering what really happens in the human body” (p. 90).
One of their challenges they make hits the communication research about how men and women communicate. They say that the difference between men and women is a matter not of gender but power and status (p.90).
They consistently give s us powerfu ...more
One of their challenges they make hits the communication research about how men and women communicate. They say that the difference between men and women is a matter not of gender but power and status (p.90).
They consistently give s us powerfu ...more
For people who are persuaded by more scientific information this book does a great job of summarizing research done on the question of a "male" brain vs "female" brain and breaks down how while there are trends overall, individually you can't tell much about a person by only knowing their sex assigned at birth.
The last section on a world without gender definitely drifted from research and into opinion but I felt that it made sense from the authors' points of view. If knowing a person's assigned ...more
The last section on a world without gender definitely drifted from research and into opinion but I felt that it made sense from the authors' points of view. If knowing a person's assigned ...more
An intriguing book reaching beyond hoping for people to look beyond gender stereotypes to really telling reaearch on the brain that found that while certain parts doing certain things could ne more common in male and or female people's brains, most brains were a Mosaic of both supposedly female and male leading features and there were many exceptions that did the opposite binary of what was expected. The author quite rightfully points out the bias that sometimes happens with certain findings bei
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Concise and poignant. It's short because the concept is self-evident to any rational thinker. Saying there is a male and female brain is as absurd as saying Black and White brains differ. The second half of the book, which focuses on gender is equally important, if not more important to understand the complex nature of gender today. There are more and more people touting their gender as a sign of pride, while all it's actually doing it detracting from the point that gender is an arbitrary constr
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