(Editor’s note: The ‘whack-a-mole’ myth is that there is such a thing as a male brain and a female brain, where the male and female refer to a brain from a man and a brain from a woman.) It certainly demonstrates the ‘whack-a-mole’ characteristics that I outline in my book The Gendered Brain.
I think the spatial cognition story – that women are unsuited for science careers due to a ‘deficit’ in this particular set of skills – is pretty persistent. Which stereotype is the most persistent in neuroresearch? But it should be noted that Charles Darwin was an out-and-out misogynist – powerfully reflecting the thinking of his time. Well, I have several quotes from Gustave LeBon in my book, so I think he would probably be top of my list.
Who is in your opinion the greatest neurosexist in history? Is he/she known for that?įrench polymath Gustave Le Bon often described women and people of colour as “the most inferior form of human evolution.” History of neuroscientific research is rather full of peculiar remarks on women and their inferiority. More specifically, this would include any research that makes unchallenged assumptions that sex differences in brain structures can explain alleged differences in cognitive or personality characteristics, possibly not even measured as part of the research protocol. Taking Cordelia Fine’s definition of neurosexism, you could say any research that assumes that gender gaps can be explained solely in terms of biologically determined, hard-wired, fixed and inevitable differences between males and females. Would you please give an example of a neurosexist research? You are publicly known for your book “The Gendered Brain” which addresses neurosexim. I originally hoped to study medicine to pursue this interest, but got diverted into psychology. I have always been fascinated by the brain. What has brought you to neuroscience? What was the appeal, or what sparked your interest? In the interview for the Center for Gender and Science, she spoke of stereotypes in neuroscience, their causes and consequences. Her scientific efforts culminated in her book The Gendered Brain: The New Neuroscience that Shatters the Myth of the Female Brain, which investigates the role of life experiences and biology in brain development. Gina Rippon, has recently become famous for her work on and critique of the misuse of neuroscientific research and outdated gender stereotypes.
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