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What Even Is Gender?
Debates about gender are everywhere. Is it an inner identity, a biological fact, or an oppressive system? Should we respect it or resist it?
What Even Is Gender? shifts the conversation in a fresh direction, arguing that these debates rest on a shared the idea that there is one thing called "gender" that both sides are arguing about. The authors distinguish a range of phenomena that established vocabulary often lumps together. This sheds light on the equivocations and false dichotomies of "gender" talk, and how they deny many of us the tools to make our needs, experiences, and concerns intelligible to others or even to ourselves.
The authors develop a conceptual toolkit that helps alleviate the harms that result from the limitations of familiar approaches. They propose a pluralistic concept of "gender feels" that distinguishes among our experiences of diverse facets of gendered life. They develop a flexible approach to gender categories that reflects the value of self-determination. And they suggest that what we need is not one universal language of gender but an awareness of individual variation and a willingness to adjust to changing contexts and circumstances.
A bold and thought-provoking approach to thinking about gender, What Even Is Gender? will be of great interest to those in philosophy, gender studies, sociology, and LGBTQIA+ studies.
What Even Is Gender? shifts the conversation in a fresh direction, arguing that these debates rest on a shared the idea that there is one thing called "gender" that both sides are arguing about. The authors distinguish a range of phenomena that established vocabulary often lumps together. This sheds light on the equivocations and false dichotomies of "gender" talk, and how they deny many of us the tools to make our needs, experiences, and concerns intelligible to others or even to ourselves.
The authors develop a conceptual toolkit that helps alleviate the harms that result from the limitations of familiar approaches. They propose a pluralistic concept of "gender feels" that distinguishes among our experiences of diverse facets of gendered life. They develop a flexible approach to gender categories that reflects the value of self-determination. And they suggest that what we need is not one universal language of gender but an awareness of individual variation and a willingness to adjust to changing contexts and circumstances.
A bold and thought-provoking approach to thinking about gender, What Even Is Gender? will be of great interest to those in philosophy, gender studies, sociology, and LGBTQIA+ studies.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2023
13 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
dnf
April 20, 2024I got through the introductory parts and moved on to the next chapter. The writers talk a lot about what the book is not... who their audience should be... None of these things seemed to answer the question posed by the title of the work. It is not what I would call a narrative but rather some circuitous form of dissertation. I don't know that anyone, even persons studying the subject, should read this book.
November 29, 2025
Having finished "What Even is Gender?" by B. R. George and R. A. Briggs, I can say it's been an enlightening journey. One of the book's central tenets is "gender feels" 🌈. This term encapsulates our deeply personal experiences, attitudes, and beliefs about gender, extending beyond mere physical perceptions or emotional reactions. It delves deep into our beliefs about gender and our relationship with societal expectations.
The authors dissect the nature of "gender feels," emphasizing that they are emotional, neutral, and hypothetical attitudes and dispositions about material gendered traits in ourselves. They introduce the idea that these feelings can be rooted in broader philosophical possibilities, suggesting they can span hypothetical or possible scenarios, thereby challenging traditional gender roles and encouraging readers to think beyond convention.
While "gender identity" is a term many are familiar with, "gender feels" offers a more comprehensive perspective by acknowledging the multifaceted nature of gender without confining anyone to a singular, unified inner trait. George and Briggs distinguish between biology-feels, category-feels, and behaviour-feels to explain how individuals experience gender while acknowledging that this framework is not all-encompassing.
The authors also caution against the pitfalls of over-reliance on the concept of "gender identity," emphasizing the importance of recognizing individuals' diverse experiences. They argue that while "gender identity" can be helpful to it, it shouldn't overshadow the rich tapestry of gender experiences that "gender feels" encompasses. In fact, they even claim that "gender identity" harms trans people. For example, they have a significant role in determining eligibility for medical approval and, therefore, act as a gatekeeper to medical transition.
This book stands as a beacon, illuminating the vast landscape of human experiences and emotions related to gender. It underscores the dynamic nature of understanding gender, reminding us that our perceptions and feelings continually evolve.
"What Even is Gender?" by George and Briggs is a profound journey into the intricate nature of human identity and experience. The authors have masterfully woven a narrative that challenges, educates, and deeply resonates with me, and others who have thought about this. Bravo!
The authors dissect the nature of "gender feels," emphasizing that they are emotional, neutral, and hypothetical attitudes and dispositions about material gendered traits in ourselves. They introduce the idea that these feelings can be rooted in broader philosophical possibilities, suggesting they can span hypothetical or possible scenarios, thereby challenging traditional gender roles and encouraging readers to think beyond convention.
While "gender identity" is a term many are familiar with, "gender feels" offers a more comprehensive perspective by acknowledging the multifaceted nature of gender without confining anyone to a singular, unified inner trait. George and Briggs distinguish between biology-feels, category-feels, and behaviour-feels to explain how individuals experience gender while acknowledging that this framework is not all-encompassing.
The authors also caution against the pitfalls of over-reliance on the concept of "gender identity," emphasizing the importance of recognizing individuals' diverse experiences. They argue that while "gender identity" can be helpful to it, it shouldn't overshadow the rich tapestry of gender experiences that "gender feels" encompasses. In fact, they even claim that "gender identity" harms trans people. For example, they have a significant role in determining eligibility for medical approval and, therefore, act as a gatekeeper to medical transition.
This book stands as a beacon, illuminating the vast landscape of human experiences and emotions related to gender. It underscores the dynamic nature of understanding gender, reminding us that our perceptions and feelings continually evolve.
"What Even is Gender?" by George and Briggs is a profound journey into the intricate nature of human identity and experience. The authors have masterfully woven a narrative that challenges, educates, and deeply resonates with me, and others who have thought about this. Bravo!
January 14, 2024
The issues around gender have become so politically charged that it's a brave act to publicly address them. This book is set towards an audience who is gender-inclusive but still curious about the questions surrounding gender and what it all means, addressing some of the common concerns or objections to non-standard views on gender. At times the discussion becomes fairly densely philosophical and it definitely seems targetted more for an academic than a popular audience. The authors take an account based on 'gender feels', which are roughly one's attitudes toward the possession of gendered traits (which they loosely group into sexed biology, gendered behaviour, and gender categories). It felt like a sensible place from which to start a useful discussion about gender, and I would hope that something like this can help move the debates forward.
May 17, 2024
The book covers a lot about gender, theories and various debates. I learned a lot.
Sometimes, I found parts hard to follow, hence the 4*, rather than 5*. But a good, informative read overall.
Sometimes, I found parts hard to follow, hence the 4*, rather than 5*. But a good, informative read overall.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews