Abstract
Gender theorists and some feminist scientists approach gender as a multilevel and complex structure that shapes human relations and perceptions, cognition, and institutions, including the research questions and methods used in science (Fausto-Sterling 2000b; Risman 2004; Ridgeway 2009). Neuroscientists, on the other hand, typically approach gender as a status or a collection of characteristics that male versus female people (and sometimes other animals) have, and the goal of many neuroscience studies is to add to an ever-growing catalogue of male/female differences – both what they are, and how they arise (e.g. Hines 2004: vii). Disagreements over the nature of gender are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, but we suggest that whether understood as a cultural frame or as an individual cognitive structure, gender is so powerful that it is difficult to get a useful purchase on how it operates. It is a bit like the sun: there is a limit to what we can learn by looking straight at it, and we might just go blind trying. Thus, we argue that a more sophisticated and ethical approach to understanding sex/gender in the brain and behavior will require the somewhat paradoxical strategy of turning away from sex/gender differences in our research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2012 Rebecca M. Jordan-Young and Raffaella I. Rumiati
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jordan-Young, R.M., Rumiati, R.I. (2012). Hardwired for Sexism? Approaches to Sex/Gender in Neuroscience. In: Bluhm, R., Jacobson, A.J., Maibom, H.L. (eds) Neurofeminism. New Directions in Philosophy and Cognitive Science. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230368385_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230368385_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-33392-9
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-36838-5
eBook Packages: Palgrave Religion & Philosophy CollectionPhilosophy and Religion (R0)