A Holistic View on the Forces that Shape Sex Differences
5 stars
Combining neuroscience and psychology, Gina Rippon delivers a systematic takedown of the "female brain" myth as well as intrinsic sex differences in general. It might be more accurate to call this book "the gendered individual" given how much psychology is brought in here. This is necessary, however, as Rippon demonstrates how quickly societal and caregiver expectations influence behavior and activities.
One of the challenges with examining brains for differences between groups is that brains aren't static. As one grows and experiences and interacts with the world, they are influenced and changed. As such, the broad approach Rippon takes here is necessary. Even if some of the psychology studies she cites haven't replicated well, she takes pains to note study limitations, and the statistical rigor and deconstruction of poor studies is refreshing. Highly recommend.