Gender

by Lisa Wade, Myra Marx Ferree

The new gold standard for sociology of gender courses An instant best-seller and now the leading book for the course, Wade and Ferree’s Gender is an accessible and inclusive introduction to sociological perspectives on gender. Drawing on memorable examples mined from history, pop culture, and current events, Gender deftly moves between theoretical concepts and applications to everyday life. Revised throughout to be more inclusive and intersectional, the Third Edition features expanded coverage of the nonbinary and trans experience and new discussions of the impact of Covid-19 on families and work.

Genres: Sociology, Textbooks, Gender, Nonfiction, Feminism, School, Academic

496 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2014

Reviews

[Katarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a textbook for school, it was a great and condensed overview of various social constructs of gender and gender ideologies. Very informative and simple to understand! I enjoyed this textbook a lot.

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read nearly this entire textbook… therefore I will log it on good reads… it was very good for being a textbook

[Chunchun · Rating 5 out of 5]

非常全面地介绍了性别领域涉及的各类术语，并且扩展到相应的婚姻、家庭研究。
性别不平等导致hierarchy的三类机制：sexism，即认为男性就是比女性强；androcentrism则是认为与男子气概相关的好于与女性相关的，比如某种原本属于女性的职业男性从业者增加时，该职业地位上升，比如男秘书；subordination认为女性应当臣服于男性，比如护士，秘书等职业。
然而，固有的性别理念不仅伤害女性，对男性也未必都是好处，特别是不符合传统男子气概期待的男性，他们比偏离女子气概的女性更可能遭受严重的gender policing。为何男性们依然为何现有性别秩序？因为即使有些男性处于男性构建的hierarchy的底层，他们也可能认为自己的性别使得他们天然优越于某些女性。

[Saul Chan Htoo Sang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Wade raises complex questions regarding gender: she especially discusses on the ways we, as a society construct gender roles and regulate these roles through social, psychological, and in extreme cases physical tactics such as raising eyebrows at certain actions, asking direct questions towards people who are deviant to that of the norm, and institutionalizing certain favors towards certain groups of gender. Building on the concept that gender is socially constructed, Wade discusses about the fluidity of gender for female-bodied people, in the sense that notion of an "ideal" woman is not one that is purely feminine, but someone who can act tough but also be dependent upon man at times. Masculinity in male-bodied people however is rigid and, by extension, fragile. For instance, although society accepts a female-bodied person wearing male-gendered clothes, people frowned and even verbally attacked the cases of vice-versa. Wade also discusses the idea of apologetic femininity, which is the idea in which female-identifying people balances their masculine actions by emphasizing their femininity at certain points. Simply put, Wade takes on the fact that gender is a product of the particular society.

Recommended for anyone who is interested in how and why male-gendered and female-gendered behaviors differ and coincide in the ways they do.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to rate what is effectively a textbook on the goodreads scale, for the record. This book reads like a textbook (albeit a pretty interesting one) and does a reasonably good job of covering the foundations of gender studies within the confines of a few hundred pages.

I would definitely recommend this to people looking to become more well versed on western ideas of gender. I learned quite a bit from this reading - in particular I had to question the way that I tend to value masculine traits above feminine ones in myself and the people I surround myself with, and what that may mean. It definitely gives some things to think about.

There were some exclusions that were truly baffling (during the discussion regarding intersectionality of race and gender, Latinos went completely undiscussed) and a few symbols that felt unnecessary and juvenile (gender binary glasses?), but all in all, Wade and Ferree did an admirable job of covering a huge topic.

[Kendra Lind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean...it’s a textbook so it’s not thrilling. But it was a good textbook.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only disappointing thing about this textbook for me is that the dude in my class - don’t these people read course descriptions? Why is there always That One Person? - didn’t seem to learn anything from it, based on the amount of times I had to try not to break things while reading his discussion posts.

The authors thoughtfully break down the waterfall effects of privilege, the performance or “doing” of gender, how hegemonic masculinity continually does a disservice to men. The chapter on politics I thought was especially enlightening, helping to put names to injustices. Approachable language, an easy and engaging read.

[Hollay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for an introduction to the Sociology of Gender class. I think it’s incredibly well written and presented. I came away learning so much that has prepared me for my graduate studies. That said, mayhaps this is just the symptom of being in sociology, but I do feel that sometimes the author had to overly simplify complex issues and that frustrated me. But again, this is definitely a superficial intro to gender in humanity and the constructs we have because of inventing it and living by it. If I ever taught the course myself I’d absolutely use this book as a great jumping off point for anyone needing to be introduced to the topic.

[Abby Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of this book was frustrating to read. Only the last two chapters really talk about the possibility of change. Though, I'm sure it was designed that way. All-in-all probably a really good first intro for cisgendered heterosexual people into the gender binary. I know for me, reading about all of the ways that women and people of color are disadvantaged was painful. Even towards the end, it still used pretty binary language.

[Ejaz Gosani · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author writes in the book that a woman can just survive on one X, just to make a point about men having nothing on their Y, such alarming bullshit is dangerous as women with just one X get Turners Syndrome.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly my favorite textbook i've ever read. this was accessible (if, at times, a little TOO accessible so that it bordered on unprofessional), and educational, and i feel like I have a better understanding of things I've been discussing for years.

[David Inwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best gender studies book I have come across. It had a very good explanation of how the patriarchy oppresses men. The male dominated history of cheer leading was something I had never heard about before.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable but full of good information and perspectives. I like the Informal style and hope my students will too.

[Cristina Sherer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good intro read, not a good fit for advanced gender scholars or an in depth, empirically conversant analysis of specific theories and themes

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful and accessible text for intro to gender and society. Chapters on intersectionality and sexuality need updates and possibly an outside contributor.

[Arleigh Kraker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for GSWS 110

[Ericka ☾⋆]

Just finished taking my last test for this class and ya girl got an A!

[Karaline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Brenda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT!!

[Ivy Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book required for class. As far as a textbook, it was so easy to read and very interesting. Loved hearing the history behind gender. It was nice how up to date it was.

[jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for class think it’s a little too sympathetic towards men

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my gender studies class. It was so eye opening and I found it to be really interesting

[Da1tonthegreat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing more than extreme propaganda claiming that biological sex doesn't exist.

[ez · Rating 2 out of 5]

well at least they tried! 1.5 stars rounded up

[Brynn Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive textbook for a sociology class on Gender & Sexuality - great knowledge for everyone

[Carlie Blazek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book

[Tristan Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great textbooks in gender do more than simply explain the field; they offer a story about the field, find compelling examples of research that will excite and engage students, and are written as invitations into new modes of thought. Wade and Ferrree’s book does all of this and more. I teach this book in my Sociology of Gender course for undergraduates. My first time through, I couldn’t put it down. And my students had the same experience.

[Olivia Dodds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only textbook I have ever read all the way through. Such great thought provoking material. You may not agree with every hypothesis or comment made but it will get you thinking about the social constructions of society! Loved it.

[Melanie Dilworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could afford physical copies of this book to hand out to everyone I know, I'd do it. This book is a MUST READ for everyone. The history content alone is worth the price of the book, but the perspectives and science will also blow your mind. Real change starts here.

[Karen]

* Understanding Oppression: Gay Rights