Will Working Mothers’ Brains Explode? The Popular New Genre of Neurosexism

Fine, Cordelia

doi:10.1007/s12152-007-9004-2

Cited by 39 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Here males are described as typically having greater skills in rule-governed, systemising activities whilst typical females are described as having superior empathy and general emotional sensitivity. Hence, males are more likely to be on the autistic spectrum as they are more predisposed to autistic traits.. Whilst the EMB theory describes biological factors as a strong determinant of risk of ASC, Fine (2008) argues that the theory underplays the influence of non-biological factors. Debates around the aetiology of ASCs continue, and there is also mounting evidence that the androcentric nature of assessment instruments, together with the self-confirming bias of gendered expectations about typical presentations within services, are maintaining this gender difference.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looking behind the mask: Social coping strategies of girls on the autistic spectrum

Tierney

Burns

Kilbey³

2016

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

229

264

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The socio-communication deficits of individuals on the autistic spectrum are well documented. However, this has largely been based on the male population and less is known about how females with autism manage social relationships across the developmental period.Ten adolescent female participants with a diagnosis of autism were interviewed and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis used to explore their experiences of managing their social relationships. The results showed that participants were motivated to develop and maintain friendships, but during adolescence this became increasingly difficult.Consequently, they developed explicit strategies to manage these relationships, including masking and imitation. The use of such strategies was both advantageous and disadvantageous, and such findings should be considered in developing gender sensitive assessment and developmentally appropriate support.Keywords: Adolescence; female; Autism Spectrum; social relationships; imitation.Coping strategies of girls with ASC 3 IntroductionThe prevalence of autism in 2010 in the UK was estimated at 3.9/1,000 in eight year old boys and 0.81/1,000 for eight year old girls (Taylor, Jick, & MacLaughlin, 2013). In a review of 32 epidemiological studies between 1966 and 2011, the male: female ratio was estimated at approximately 4:1 in autism and 10:1 in Asperger's Syndrome ([AS] Fombonne, 2003). Whilst exact ratios differ across studies, the gender disparity has been consistent since the condition's initial identification, often credited to Kanner in 1943. Various theoretical accounts for this gender difference have been offered, and criticism has been directed at the research and diagnostic practices which may perpetuate and exaggerate this difference. It is important that the reality of this imbalance and the gender sensitivity of assessment instruments and services are investigated, as it seems that girls with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) may remain un-or mis-diagnosed, and more gender appropriate support not offered (Gould & Ashton-Smith, 2011).It is beyond the scope of this paper to present the breadth of theories around gender and ASC (see Rivet & Matson, 2011, for a comprehensive review), but one influential theory is the Extreme Male Brain ([EMB] Baron-Cohen, 2002). Here males are described as typically having greater skills in rule-governed, systemising activities whilst typical females are described as having superior empathy and general emotional sensitivity. Hence, males are more likely to be on the autistic spectrum as they are more predisposed to autistic traits.. Whilst the EMB theory describes biological factors as a strong determinant of risk of ASC, Fine (2008) argues that the theory underplays the influence of non-biological factors. Debates around the aetiology of ASCs continue, and there is also mounting evidence that the androcentric nature of assessment instruments, together with the self-confirming bias of gendered expectations about typical presentations within services, are maintaining this gen...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looking behind the mask: Social coping strategies of girls on the autistic spectrum

Tierney

Burns

Kilbey³

2016

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

229

264

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“…Cordelia Fine, a neuroscientist who now refers to herself as a 'critical neuroscientist', argues that Brizendine's The Female Brain and other publications like it are examples of ''neurosexism''. She writes, ''unfortunately, scientific accuracy and common sense are often casualties in the ugly rush to cloak old-fashioned sexism in the respectable and authoritative language of neuroscience'' (Fine, 2008). Fine fails to give us guidance, however, on how best to respond to or critically evaluate the more scientific and careful work being conducted by sex-difference researchers such as Kimura. Anne Fausto-Sterling, a biologist, has authored two significant books that take a feminist perspective on biological theories about men and women.…”

Section: Feminist Approaches To Sex-based Neuroscientific Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Young & Balaban, 2006, p. 634). Other reviews and discussions by neuroscientists and feminists have been equally if not more critical (see, for example, Fine 2008).…”

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confidence: 99%

Sex differences and neuroethics

DesAutels¹

2010

Philosophical Psychology

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Discussions in neuroethics to date have ignored an ever-increasing neuroscientific lilterature on sex differences in brains. If, indeed, there are significant differences in the brains of men versus women and in the brains of boys versus girls, the ethical and social implications loom very large. I argue that recent neuroscientific findings on sex-based brain differences have significant implications for theories of morality and for our understandings of the neuroscience of moral cognition and behavior.

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“…Through the use of suspect interpretation of data, and the publication of these interpretations in popular science media, Cordelia Fine has argued that gender stereotypes are being propagated through the misrepresentation of the science, through (among other things) assigning excessive significance to or drawing over broad inferences from research data [5].…”

Section: Introduction: (Mis) Understanding Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Speak No Evil: Scientists, Responsibility, and the Public Understanding of Science

Evans

2010

Nanoethics

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In this paper, I will discuss the responsibilities that scientists have for ensuring their work is interpreted correctly. I will argue that there are three good reasons for scientists to work to ensure the appropriate communication of their findings. First, I will argue that scientists have a general obligation to ensure scientific research is communicated properly based on the vulnerability of others to the misrepresentation of their work. Second, I will argue that scientists have a special obligation to do so because of the power we as a society invest in them as specialists and professionals. Finally, I will argue that scientists ought to ensure their work is interpreted correctly based on prudential, self-interested considerations. I will conclude by offering suggestions regarding policy considerations.

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Will Working Mothers’ Brains Explode? The Popular New Genre of Neurosexism

Cited by 39 publications

References 19 publications

Looking behind the mask: Social coping strategies of girls on the autistic spectrum

Looking behind the mask: Social coping strategies of girls on the autistic spectrum

Sex differences and neuroethics

Speak No Evil: Scientists, Responsibility, and the Public Understanding of Science

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