Scan barcode
augustlight's review against another edition
3.0
I can't count the number of times I've recommended this book. I learned so much about the constructs of gender and sex. Her writing on intersexuality is particularly interesting, and reveals how even thinking of sex as binary is less accurate than we think. Took away two stars after reading Garth Riggs' review; it is a pretty white view of the history of sex and gender. I still think it's an important book, but it needs to be read with that in mind.
popcorndiva's review against another edition
4.0
I read this entire book for my Psychology of Gender class. This book changed my perspective on sex, gender, sexual identity, gender identity, and just binaries of sex/gender/orientation as a whole. Anne Fausto-Sterling approached this topic in the best, most direct way possible. She illustrates all of her arguments with examples and sound logic. She presents completely novel concepts that I had never even considered.
This book humbled me. I thought I knew quite a lot about feminism, gender, sex, etc, but it turns out there is always more to know and room for thought. I now consider gender and sex completely differently than I did four months ago. I think anyone with an interest in sex, gender, identity, psychology, or just new ideas should read this book. If it doesn't change your perspective, it will at least challenge you and make you think a bit deeper about your own beliefs.
This book humbled me. I thought I knew quite a lot about feminism, gender, sex, etc, but it turns out there is always more to know and room for thought. I now consider gender and sex completely differently than I did four months ago. I think anyone with an interest in sex, gender, identity, psychology, or just new ideas should read this book. If it doesn't change your perspective, it will at least challenge you and make you think a bit deeper about your own beliefs.
townsendme's review against another edition
4.0
This took a while to power through (chapter on rodent mating was maybe more than I wanted to know about rat sex) but an important book for sex/gender conceptualization. A good read for gender therapists, especially those who cling to a rudimentary “sex vs gender” binary without understanding social history of science and feminist contributions to sex difference research. The metaphor of biology/culture divide as a mobius strip was very compelling. The updated edition still left in some dated chapters without edit, so I’d warn intersex folks that the beginning of the book may be painful to read as she left in a lot of outdated language. Race is barely discussed which is also a big oversight.
anna_near's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a thought-provoking and insightful examination of the ways in which gender and sexuality are constructed in our society. Anne Fausto-Sterling presents a wealth of research and analysis to support her arguments, making a compelling case for the need to rethink traditional notions of gender and sexuality. Her writing is clear and engaging, making this book accessible to a wide audience. I will say, it is definitely academic and scientific and not exactly an enjoyable read whilst in the thick of it. However, it challenged a lot of common assumptions and 100% broadened my worldview. This is a good source for gender studies and extremely relevant in today's political climate.
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
kserra's review against another edition
4.0
The last paragraph ends with a quote from Donna Haraway: "biology is politics by other means," and that serves as an excellent summary of the argument of the book. Fausto-Sterling recaps the scientific literature on sex difference, showing how our constructions of sex are just as tied to social notions of difference as our constructions of gender.
If you want an in-depth scientific description of rat mating behavior to use to explain to someone that their notion of sexual behavior and sex difference is as easy to complicate as their notion of gender, this is the book for you. (Seriously, though, the rat chapter is kind of boring.) I would recommend Sex/Gender by Fausto-Sterling as a better primer. This book is definitely for those who delight in the literature itself.
Be warned: the book's discussion of trans people is super dated and can read either a bit naive or accidentally transphobic.
If you want an in-depth scientific description of rat mating behavior to use to explain to someone that their notion of sexual behavior and sex difference is as easy to complicate as their notion of gender, this is the book for you. (Seriously, though, the rat chapter is kind of boring.) I would recommend Sex/Gender by Fausto-Sterling as a better primer. This book is definitely for those who delight in the literature itself.
Be warned: the book's discussion of trans people is super dated and can read either a bit naive or accidentally transphobic.