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597 reviews for:
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That's Rewriting The Story
Angela Saini
4.02 AVERAGE
597 reviews for:
Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong—and the New Research That's Rewriting The Story
Angela Saini
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Very well researched book about how science has looked at women. What remained after reading is the notion that misogyny is all very alive and kicking in current research hypothesis. It reads like at least half of the research as performed by men is used by JD Vance to support his claims. Fortunately there are other voices as well. But as usual in science it’s one pov versus the other without any kind of constructive efforts to some the puzzle. So yes, highly recommended book!
Angela Saini's (@AngelaDSaini) 'Inferior' is a tool book for women dealing with misogynistic trolls in all aspects of your life in response to every:"there just aren't good female scientists/applicants" "they're just not interested in science" "just better suited to nursing/care"
It's incredibly well written, well though out argument and collection of evidence against the status quo thought on women in biological and societal terms.
It's incredibly well written, well though out argument and collection of evidence against the status quo thought on women in biological and societal terms.
informative
medium-paced
又一本读书会的书籍。科普向，不可否认读书之前依然会有对女性群体的偏见。也涉及了[b:An Elegant Defense: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System: A Tale in Four Lives|41806641|An Elegant Defense The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System A Tale in Four Lives|Matt Richtel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1536675512l/41806641._SY75_.jpg|65229630]里提到的观点，有关女性免疫系统和XX染色体。后半部分也从鸟类、鲸和灵长类动物出发，提出了新的观点，我们对女性的认知都是受社会影响的。而与之抗衡的方法之一就是女性团结起来。
在德州心跳法案通过的这个时间点读到堕胎确实有些唏嘘。恰好印证了作者在结尾提到Resistance from certain corners is so powerfully toxic that it threatens to overturn the progress that’s been made.
在德州心跳法案通过的这个时间点读到堕胎确实有些唏嘘。恰好印证了作者在结尾提到Resistance from certain corners is so powerfully toxic that it threatens to overturn the progress that’s been made.
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
In Inferior, Saini meticulously analyzes centuries of scientific theories and discoveries to debunk our ideas regarding the innate biological inferiority of women. Inferior first describes the origins of scientific investigation into the role of women in society, with Darwin himself asserting that women were simply less evolved than men due to the supposed fact that they haven’t had to improve to compete for mates. It also illustrates the emergence of female resistance, with various women composing sharp retorts to Victorian science-justified sexism. Sexism was also rooted in early scientific discoveries, such as sex hormones, which seemed to prove our that our binary culture was in fact a product of biology. Early experiments revealed that estrogen made women feminine, and testosterone made men masculine, seemingly putting an end to the debate of difference between the sexes. In chapter two, the book goes on to describe the remarkable strength of women. Although girls are more frequently victims of infanticide due to their apparent uselessness to families, they have significantly more endurance than male babies in terms of survival after birth and after the contraction of diseases in adulthood. While men are more likely to inherit medical issues due to the presence of only one X chromosome, known as X-linked disorders, women have more “plastic” immune systems to allow for the growth of babies while still protecting from foreign invaders. The male-dominated nature of science has led to an understanding of medicine that largely leaves out women, who are often not included in medical studies due to the complicated nature of hormone fluctuations and the possibility of pregnancy. Many studies have attempted to discern differences between male and female brains at birth, with few revealing promising results. Ultimately, every brain is individual and should be observed as a unique entity, not as one that fits into category A or B. This is in part due to the plasticity of the brain. Throughout our lives, events can lead to changes in the size of different parts of the brain, shaping us into distinct beings. Inferior also shares studies that debunk the idea that women are caretakers or “gatherers,” while men are providers and hunters. Studies of various primates have shown evidence of co-parenting, and in the case of tamarins, evidence of males being the primary caretaker. In some areas, there are “alloparents,” or communities that help raise children that they aren’t related to by blood. Based on this, it would be unreasonable to assume that women should be the sole caretakers for their children. The book also challenges the stereotype of women as quiet, modest compliments to men, noting that a patriarchy began to form as sedentary societies evolved and it became necessary for men to find ways to protect their property and ensure that inheritances would be passed down to blood relatives. As quality and length of life improved, the purpose of post-menopausal women came into question. If they couldn’t fulfill their biological purpose, why were they alive? One theory presented by Saini is the “grandma theory.” Maternal grandmothers have been shown to increase a child’s chance of survival, as they provide essential care to children and mothers while also passing down their knowledge to succeeding generations. Ultimately, Saini demonstrates the importance of an inclusive body of scientific knowledge. Without understanding women, we do not have a complete understanding of human biology. I appreciated that Inferior discussed research that supported Sainni’s argument while also addressing, and often quashing, opposing studies. However, she also recognizes the falts of some studies conducted by feminists, ackowledging biases and assumptions in their research. I will say that I found the layout of the chapters difficult to navigate at times, and the sheer amount of information was difficult to digest at some points due to the abundance of scientists and studies mentioned on each page. It is also important to note that this is a feminist book, which leads to biases in some of her arguments. For instance, her discussion of the matriarchal societies of bonobos dismisses the patriarchal hierarchies of chimpanzee communities, and in my opinion falls short of proving her point. There is also some charged language used to describe the patriarchy which (although I welcome it) could be unappealing to some audiences. But overall, it provided a comprehensive picture of the history of the scientific study of women and the faults in our current understanding of their role in society in a format friendly to people unfamiliar with the advanced topics covered.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
informative
reflective