Caryl Rivers and Rosalind Barnett
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780231151634
- eISBN:
- 9780231525305
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231151634.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Developmental Psychology
This book tackles a new, troubling trend in the theorizing of gender: that the learning styles, brain development, motivation, cognitive and spatial abilities, and “natural” inclinations of girls and ...
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This book tackles a new, troubling trend in the theorizing of gender: that the learning styles, brain development, motivation, cognitive and spatial abilities, and “natural” inclinations of girls and boys are so fundamentally different, they require unique styles of parenting and education. Ignoring the science that challenges these claims, those who promote such theories make millions while frightening parents and educators into enforcing old stereotypes and reviving unhealthy attitudes in the classroom. This text unmakes the pseudoscientific rationale for this argument, stressing the individuality of each child and the specialness of his or her talents and desires. It recognizes that in our culture, girls and boys encounter different stimuli and experiences, yet encouraging children to venture outside their comfort zones helps them realize a multifaceted character.Less
This book tackles a new, troubling trend in the theorizing of gender: that the learning styles, brain development, motivation, cognitive and spatial abilities, and “natural” inclinations of girls and boys are so fundamentally different, they require unique styles of parenting and education. Ignoring the science that challenges these claims, those who promote such theories make millions while frightening parents and educators into enforcing old stereotypes and reviving unhealthy attitudes in the classroom. This text unmakes the pseudoscientific rationale for this argument, stressing the individuality of each child and the specialness of his or her talents and desires. It recognizes that in our culture, girls and boys encounter different stimuli and experiences, yet encouraging children to venture outside their comfort zones helps them realize a multifaceted character.