The Female Brain

Providing specific in-text citations and a thorough reference section is common practice in the academic and scientific communities. Why did Brizendine choose to deviate from this norm? How does the lack of clear citations affect the text?

Who is the intended audience for The Female Brain? How does the author identify and connect with her intended audience in the text?

Most modern gender theorists, social scientists, and medical professionals reject the idea that gendered behavior is biologically determined. Analyze Brizendine’s assertions that gendered behavior is caused by neurological and hormonal differences. How does she support behavior as bio-essentialist?

Analyze the case study approach used to guide the scientific discussions. How do the case studies benefit the text? How are the case studies biased or exclusionary?

Brizendine’s bio-essentialist views imply that gendered behaviors evolved to aid and enhance human procreation. Compare Brizendine’s views with modern theories on gender behavior. Do modern theorists agree that procreation is the ultimate goal of existence?

Explore criticism of The Female Brain, such as Delusions of Gender or “Psychoneuroindoctrinology.” Why do such critics disagree with Brizendine?

How does the view that procreation is the ultimate goal of human existence shape Brizendine’s worldview as expressed in her writing? How does this shape her interpretation of data?

Brizendine includes two sections in the front matter of The Female Brain that explain the roles of hormones and brain structures. How does this scientific introduction prime readers for the main body of the text?