Reconceptualizing sex, brain and gender from dimorphism to mosaic
a talk by Daphna Joel
School of Psychological Sciences
and Sagol School of Neuroscience
Tel-Aviv University
When scientists and laypeople think about sex differences in brain and in behavior, cognition, personality and other gender characteristics, they rely on an analogy to the current interpretation of the effects of sex on the reproductive system, and therefore conceptualize sex effects in terms of “sexual dimorphism” (e.g., “male” versus “female” brains). Documented sex differences in brain structure are typically taken to support this dimorphic view of brain and gender.
On the basis of current data, Joel calls for a paradigm shift in our conceptualization of the relation between sex, brain and gender.
Sponsored by the Committee on Degrees in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.