The End of Gender: A Psychological Autopsy [Paperback]

Shari L. Thurer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415927714 | ISBN-13: 978-0415927710 | Publication Date: June 16, 2005 | Edition: New edition

Gender isn't what it used to be. What was deviant for baby boomers has become mainstream for their offspring. Gender as we once understood it is over. In "End of Gender", Shari L. Thurer argues that we are in the midst of a new sexual revolution. One, she argues, where gender categories are blurring not just at the 'fringes' of society, but in mainstream lifestyle, media, fashion, and art. So, why is this cultural phenomenon happening now? And what does it mean? Thurer explores topics such as: Psychoanalysis Meets Postmodern Sex; Postmodernism For Those Who Missed It; and Men are from Earth, Women are from Earth, and so are Queers. In lively, non-technical language, and with sometimes surprising case studies from her twenty-five years as a psychologist, Thurer answers key gender questions, combining complex postmodern theory with cutting-edge psychoanalysis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This erudite review of multiple enactments of gender in the wake of 'pomo,' or postmodern, theory is an impressive tour de force...A wide-ranging, intelligent analysis that can serve as an introduction to the issues while also making its own, unique contribution." -- ForeWord, November/December 2005

"This book is Thurer’s articulate and persuasive argument against the validity of unyielding sex and gender categories … The eyes of the clinician, academic and general reader will be opened on how to deconstruct the concepts of gender, sexual orientation, and sexuality through psychoanalytic, postmodern, and queer theories… The clever use of pop culture and engaging case presentations instantly pulls the reader in." -- Gregory M. Jones, Division 44 Newsletter, Spring 2007

"As I read the book, I found myself challenged, provoked and grateful… Her combination of irony, humor, empathy, conversational language, and accessible writing is irresistible, making this brilliant feat of scholarship a pleasure to read." Sharon K. Farber Division 39 Newsletter, Winter 2007

"This is a remarkable book.  My head was spinning from the vast array of topics covered...this book is smart, witty, extremely far-ranging, and enormously complex.  I am glad I read it." -- Ellen Cole, American Journal of Psychology, Fall 2007

 

From the Back Cover

"Stunning and unique, this book will enlighten us all, the general reader as well as the clinician and academic. Dr. Thurer accomplishes the amazing feat of bringing together the work of two groups who need each other but who don’t usually talk to each other. She brings us her clinician’s understanding of sexual and gender issues along with an accessible account of the kind of work that should go on in many fields but rarely does." –Jean Baker Miller, author of Toward a New Psychology of Women

"How does one go about the impossible task of defining a subject that willfully resists classification? One might start by reading The End of Gender. Shari L. Thurer’s wit, playfulness, accessible scholarship, and clinical sensitivity make reading this book a pleasure. In fact, if I were to teach a basic seminar on postmodern gender studies and queer theory, The End of Gender would certainly make my reading list." –Jack Drescher, author of Psychoanalytic Therapy and the Gay Man

"Shari L. Thurer has written an explosive and well-researched book which forces us to question our ritualized assumptions and sex and gender. Often inducing discomfort as she challenges our prejudices, Thurer has made a provocative—indeed volcanic—contribution to debates on modern psychology." –Estela V. Welldon, author of Mother, Madonna, Whore

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; New edition edition (June 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415927714
• ISBN-13: 978-0415927710
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for anyone interested in sex!, November 17, 2005

By 

Geneva Abiko "Geneva Reynaga-Abiko, Psy.D." - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The End of Gender: A Psychological Autopsy (Paperback)

The End of Gender is, by far, the most comprehensive and best-researched book on human sexuality written by a psychoanalyst. Thurer writes in a highly readable style and her humor is easily detectible. She writes this book as a practicing clinician hoping to better understand the gender and sexuality continuum expressed in her patients. In achieving this goal, she incorporates biology, neuroscience, sociology, queer theory, feminist theory, and various schools of psychoanalysis. While this sounds intimidating, Thurer remains readable as she successfully convinces us that sexuality and gender are constructs that cannot be contained in the boxes we have traditionally shoved them in.

Thurer has written an amazing, powerful book. The first half reads like a cultural critique whereas the second half focuses on a variety of theories that are almost beyond comprehension for the layperson. But Thurer writes well, and it is nearly impossible to resist the beauty of her arguments. While this book does not put forth a psychological theory of gender and sexuality by which a psychologist may formulate workable hypotheses for use in clinical practice, it does raise important questions about the commonly held views regarding gender and sexuality. After finishing this text, the reader is left with a new understanding of the world. I highly recommend this book to anyone attempting to understand gender and sexuality as they exist today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing job!, November 2, 2005

By 

Susan E. Milmoe - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The End of Gender: A Psychological Autopsy (Paperback)

This clear, lively book offers an overview of current debates about the nature of gender and sexuality in fields ranging from literary and cultural studies to the social, behavioral and biological sciences--fields among which there has been deplorably minimal cross-fertilization. I developed one of the early college courses on gender roles in the 1970s; were I still teaching, what a resource it would be! While threading her way through the mazes of contemporary psychoanalyic, postmodern, and queer theories, Shari Thurer, a clinician as well as a scholar, never loses sight of real people who are trying to make sense of their lives.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading, September 26, 2005

By 

Jacob Anderson-Minshall "Jake" (San Francisco Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The End of Gender: A Psychological Autopsy (Paperback)

If you've ever struggled with the opaque writing style of some queer theorists, like Judith Butler, this is a book you must own. Not only does Thurer do a brilliant job of synthesizing queer/post modern theory down to clearly understandable terms, she goes one further by illustrating how practitioning Freudian psychoanalysts can employ queer theory in treatment of patients.
End of Gender's "postmodernism for those who missed it" makes it an accessible reference that deserves its place on the required reading lists of Queer and Gender Studies classes across the country.