Gender Shock: Exploding the Myths of Male & Female

by Phyllis Burke

At a time when men are staying home to parent and women are leaving to practice law and politics, America is confused and anxious about what differences truly exist between the sexes. In a world of changing roles for both sexes, how are "masculine" and "feminine" defined? If women and men are created equal, how then do gender differences emerge?

Combining investigative journalism with a survey of current scientific research, Phyllis Burke pushes our society's hottest button, gender anxiety. Contrary to gender gurus such as John Gray, who have depended upon exploiting the differences between men and women, Burke debunks the myth that men and women are from different planets. She casts a disbelieving eye on the shockingly popular diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder, in which children as young as three years old undergo therapy for not adhering to accepted notions of "girl" and "boy" behavior, and she encourages a shift towards a "gender independent" culture, in which individuals adopt the best traits of both sexes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Gender, Psychology, LGBT, Transgender, Gender Studies

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Tonya Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. Burke examined so many gender stereotypes that everyone has been trained to ignore and accept. I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone because of how profoundly it has changed the way I view things.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and terrifying look into the history of conversion therapies for gender non-conforming kids.

[LucidStyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "shocking" aspect of this book was the numerous case examples of conversion therapies that were prevalent into the mid 1990s: the persistence of parenting and teaching styles that enforce societal norms on their kids rather than allow them to flourish and to be, and to discover who they are.

This book offers much food for thought. Gender studies have opened my mind to what a truly diverse society can be, though I'm skeptical that gender diversity will ever replace traditional sex ed, it would be beautiful if these differences could be acknowledged and accepted sooner. Most LGBTQ+ individuals I've met had always known something about themselves, but social rules prevented them from questioning and exploring their true sense of self. Flowers can't bloom in parched earth. I appreciate that this book is adding to that discussion and enriching a soil that can nourish countless varieties of selves.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was in turns horrifying, interesting, and a little boring. The horrifying part is how psychologists are treating these children and that the parents allow it. Some of the research discussed in the book was interesting, but then it got repetitive.

[Shannon T.L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was terrible. her work was obviously not impartial, she made conclusions that she wanted to make even when the science contradicted her. she contradicted herself over and over again. terribly, terribly done.

[Dan Trachtman · Rating 2 out of 5]

read half. not much I didnt already know. pretty basic