Delusions of Gender, By Cordelia Fine

Christopher Hirst
Friday 18 February 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

This book rubbishes the view of one psychologist that "the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy. The male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding."

Fine approvingly quotes a biologist who describes the brain as "a vast unknown, a perfect medium on which to project... assumptions about gender."

She suggests that for women to succeed in traditionally male work, they face the same problem as Ginger Rogers who, as was famously noted, "did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels."

The gendering of children, ("the pernicious pinkification of little girls") affects every aspect of their lives. An ironic book with a serious message, it points out that adults also obey this rigid code.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in