S/He Brain: Science, Sexual Politics, and the Myths of Feminism [Hardcover]

Robert L. Nadeau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0275955931 | ISBN-13: 978-0275955939

The individual most responsible for legitimating the modern distinction between sex and gender was the anthropologist Margaret Mead. According to the Mead doctrine, gender identity is almost entirely a product of learning in different cultural contexts, and sex, or biological reality, is not a determinant of this identity. The assumption that gender identity is learned in sexless, or gender-neutral, minds separate and distinct from sex-specific bodies legitimated the "sex/gender system" that has been foundational to feminist theory since the mid 1970s. In this system, sex refers to physiological differences in the domain of the body and gender to learned behavior in the domain of mind. Since this "two-domain" distinction obviated the connection between biological reality and gender identity, it allowed gender identity to be viewed as scripted or socially constructed by cultural narratives (stories, myths, legends, and the like) invented by men to control and oppress women. In S/He Brain, Nadeau demonstrates that the sex/gender system is not in accord with biological reality for now obvious reasons--the brains of men and women are not the same, and the differences have behavioral consequences. Yet the intent of the book is to serve the cause of full sexual equality and not to escalate the gender war. Nadeau attempts to accomplish this by demonstrating that an improved understanding of the relationship between sex and gender can not only enlarge the bases for meaningful communication between men and women. It could also serve as the basis for a new and improved standard of sexual equality that eliminates the grossly unfair treatment of women sanctioned by the current standard.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In this closely reasoned--and likely to be controversial--report, Nadeau contends that biological differences between male and female brains do indeed bear on differences in male and female behavior.”–Publishers Weekly

About the Author

ROBERT L. NADEAU, a Professor and interdisciplinary scholar at George Mason University, works to bridge the gap between the two cultures of the humanities and the sciences.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Trade (October 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275955931
• ISBN-13: 978-0275955939
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,835,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but not convincing, March 8, 2009

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: S/He Brain: Science, Sexual Politics, and the Myths of Feminism (Hardcover)

Nadeau is trying to expound on at three different hypotheses, all of which have a certain amount of tension. The first is that there are sex differences built into the brain. The second is that, even so, the similarities between men and women, on the whole, are greater than their differences. Thirdly, he argues that feminists claims that there are no sexual difference, only learned gender differences, beyond reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics are wrong. Implied in this is some agreement with the idea of evolutionary psychology that some traits are innate in the physical structure of the brain.

Even assuming that some psychology is inborn, if men and women are so similar, one might ask why it is so important to call attention to the differences. Perhaps, even if these differences are real, it is a mistake to attribute them so strongly to the two sexes. Perhaps these differences, and others that people have from time to time posited, are best recognized as valid variations among people. Perhaps it is better to be aware that some people show their affection by actions, and others in words, rather than assuming, on the basis of sex, that the people in one's life must react one way or another. Their is an example on p. 82 that Nadeau takes from Deborah Tannen, A man mentions that he is tired since he didn't sleep well the night before. His wife replies that she never sleeps well. He feels belittled, his wife, and Tannen, claim that she was just expressing empathy. I'm a woman, but I agree with the man: he is being belittled. So one cannot rely on sex to predict reactions.

An interesting book, but not entirely convincing to me.

5 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Science?, July 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: S/He Brain: Science, Sexual Politics, and the Myths of Feminism (Hardcover)

If Nadeau truly wants to bridge the gap between the humanities and science, he should take statistics 101 again.

Differences in groups (such as male and female), while statisticaly significant cannot tell us how an individual of each group will think or behave.

I found it laughably ironic that people such as Nadeau claim to want to "honor our differences" but then reduce our individuality to one of 2 groups. Since when is 2 groups large enough to reflect the diversity of humanity?

Yes, men and women are NOT alike. Guess what? Two individual women are NOT alike either. Neither are two individual men.

Individuals come in a blend of masculine and feminine traits - not one or the other.

This guy is as wrong as the people who think we are all the same. Saying we are really 2 groups is no more enlightened then insisting we are all one big pot of bland androgyny soup.