Customer Reviews

Gender Shock: Exploding the Myths of Male and Female

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book helped us to celebrate our "gender independent" son (a term that Phyllis Burke coins, that I love). Before we read this book, we supported our son's differentness, but we never celebrated it. This book helped our family to truly appreciate what a gift we have in our child.

This book was an excellent read. Not only did Phyllis Burke entertain, but she also informed me of something I had previously been unaware of: "Gender Identity Disorder"

The book gives great detail of the stereotypes and myths surrounding gender in the US and other countries. It offers a view on several case studies and individuals diagnosed as having GID.

This is a fabulous book that describes the painful and disturbing things that are done to people, especially children, to try to fit them within the social stereotypes of male and female. It is very powerful, and (re)challenged me to value to person way above the box.

"Gender Shock" is the brutial mistreatment of people "who are gender different." As a male to female transexual I saw the examples as "That could have been me!" Unfortuntally she thinks all treatmens for "Gender Identity Disorder" (GID) are mistreatment. She is wrong. I needed GID diagnosis to confirm access to proper treatment. As an "informed consummer" I was able to avoid the improper treatments that are discribed in this book. Some of my fellow transsexuals have been treated as in this book. Fortunatly they eventually got proper treatment. Her crusade to remove GID will harm those that need access to proper treatment and the future reseach into this condition.

When glancing over one of the reviews which stated 'everyone should read this book,' I couldn't help but second that advice. This book is one of the most disturbing I have read about gender in that it outlines the extent to which some psychologists, psychiatrists, parents and others go to have children 'conform' with societal norms relating to boys' and girls' behavior.

I couldn't help but wonder what these doctors and parents thought was at stake when a son didn't enjoy 'rough and tumble play' or a daughter did too much. Obviously, fears of homosexuality were paramount, yet some of the treatments were so painful - emotionally and otherwise - to both parents and child that it was rather unsettling to see people go to such lengths to have children act as they're 'supposed' to. And I cannot help but surmise that household contributions on the part of men might be more significant were they brought up playing house or with dolls or any of the other activities that provide early training for girls. Gender equality, however, was clearly not what these parents or doctors were seeking.

The overview of some specific cases clearly illustrates the points that the author tries to make. It's well written and accessible yet addresses some very complicated issues about how we view gender and those who diverge from established standards. It's a must-read for anyone concerned with gender roles, gender equality and the lengths society will go to to make sure that roles remain defined and immutable.

This book, written by an intelligent and wise person, is truly insightful. I just wish society were more like this rather than convincing boys who are sensitive that they must be gay. That's a point made in this book, that gender and sexuality are distinct. This book should be required reading by everyone, especially teachers and parents, so that the current air of political correctness would become a true theme of understanding and acceptance. And our youth may be allowed to unfold into the persons they really are, not pressured to fit the mold of distinctly masculine or distinctly feminine, and made to feel weird if they don't. A fascinating read!

A friend gave me this book years ago, but it sat unread on my shelf. Recently I decided to do some research on transexuality and gender identity so I picked it up and started reading. Now I'm kicking myself for not having read it sooner. What a fascinating book. While some of the stories are difficult to read, Ms. Burke conveys the information in an easily understandable manor. I've always felt that our society's insistence on pigeonholing people into neat little slots, whether by race, religion or gender, limits human potential. After reading Ms. Burke's book I'm even more convinced that human beings, be they biologically male or female or something in between, are complex creatures.

For so many years,I was struggling with therapists who were terrified to find that I didn't fit the "typical" female mode of thinking,romantic,sexually passive,emotional,defused in thinking, the typical light headed female who couldn't do math or read maps.Also they were dismayed to learn that as a child I played sports with boys,climbed trees,bruzed my knee,got in fights, played with trucks,swords and toy gun and turned out to be a completely heterosexual woman,,,what do ya know!

This book blasts Mars and Venus out of the water and all gender bias books and exposes them for what they are...AN AGENDA!