The Gendered Brain caused by biosocial straitjackets

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Thought easier to do a new post; this is a really good summary of Gina Rippon's new book on the neurosexism in brain research or how it's been interpreted.

(I'm still not sure if she's made it to radio 4 yet!)

Two key paragraphs for me:

Cultural paths
So if it’s not brain hard-wiring, how do we explain the often stark differences in behaviour and interests between men and women? Here is where we get to Rippon’s thesis on the impact of a gendered world on the human brain. She builds her case in four loosely defined parts, from the sordid history of sex-difference research through modern brain-imaging methods, the emergence of social cognitive neuroscience and the surprisingly weak evidence for brain sex differences in newborns. Rippon shows how children’s “cerebral sponges” probably differentiate thanks to the starkly pink-versus-blue cultures in which they are soaked from the moment of prenatal sex reveal.
....

Whatever the subtitle, the book accomplishes its goal of debunking the concept of a gendered brain. The brain is no more gendered than the liver or kidneys or heart. Towards the end, Rippon flirts with the implications of this finding for the growing number of people transitioning or living between current binary gender categories. But for now, she concludes, most of us remain strapped in the “biosocial straitjackets” that divert a basically unisex brain down one culturally gendered pathway or another.

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00677-x

Thanks Neuro, its a good article you linked to. Very much saying the same thing.

Skin is apparently mostly different; something to do with stretching during pregnancy... (off to google skin) ( later as babe up)

'Men's and women's skins differ in hormone metabolism, hair growth, sweat rate, sebum production, surface pH, fat accumulation, serum leptins, etc. Examples of differences in the proneness to cutaneous diseases and skin cancer are quoted.'
www.jdsjournal.com/article/S0923-1811%2809%2900164-9/abstract

If you insist that the biological differences between the sexes are trivial, don't complain when sex is replaced by gender identity ...

The trouble with looking for scientific articles is that there's a publication bias towards studies that find a difference. The sex based differences in skin are trivial.

You're seeing this as very black and white crsacre, there are many sex differences in the body and brain structure and dna and diseases etc. It's massively important in so many situations, sport, medicine etc.

However

The way the brain produces personality, skill, preferences to inanimate objects and clothes is not sex based, which is the main basis of the book. To say a female brain is better or worse at xyz is why women were suppressed for so long.

Brains are incredibly plastic. Learning new skills such as music, art, dance and languages actually boosts skills in other areas and iq. And bilingualism apparently reduces dementia risk in the elderly, etc etc.

A gendered society restricts the ability for brains to reach full potential between the sexes.

But maybe read the book, it explains it much better

Yet the quote in the thread title is saying there is a difference.

The Gendered Brain caused by biosocial straitjackets

So the straitjacket is caused by both biology and social influences? Not one or the other but both

I've not read the whole book yet.

But for now, she concludes, most of us remain strapped in the “biosocial straitjackets” that divert a basically unisex brain down one culturally gendered pathway or another.

I'm wondering if this actually means the way 'gender roles' are tied to the sexes.