reviewed by Jennifer Lynn
Brain Sex is a book by Anne Moir & David Jessel published in 1989 by Mandarin. It attempts to bring some sense to the many research efforts undertaken in the area of sex differences in the brain, brain chemistry, sexuality, and gender. An ambitious and most politically incorrect undertaking to be sure.
If the authors have not succeeded in their efforts they have made one hell of a first step. This can perhaps best be characterized by the introductory paragraph of the book....
"Men are different from Women. They are equal only in their common membership of the same species, humankind. To maintain that they are the same in aptitude, skill, or behavior is to build a society based on a biological and scientific lie."
The sexes are different because their brains are different. The brain, the chief administrative and emotional organ of life, is differently constructed in men and women; it processes information in different ways, which results in different perceptions, priorities, and behavior."
The authors as putting forth the case that sex or gender differences are real and a result of differing brain structures. These differences, they postulate, are the result of hormonally induced structural changes in the brain during fetal development. That is to say that we are wired male or female at the time of birth. What comes later is simply a matter of degree within that original gender definition in the brain.
This process starts at 6 weeks after conception. Depending on the fetal genetic makeup either ovaries or testes begin to develop. These organ in turn secrete hormones that will during subsequent fetal development complete the masculinization or feminization of that fetus.
It should be noted that the default fetal state is female. That is, in the absence of androgens (i.e., masculinizing hormones) the fetus will become female. This will occur even if the fetus is a genetic XY, the male pattern. Further the impact of these hormones on the fetus during development appears to be permanent.
Many researchers believe that gender development takes place in three distinct phases. The first is the sex centers, that is the physical differences that differentiate men and women. The second, relates to our attraction to the same or opposite sex. Finally the gender based role centers in the brain are created. Behaviors such as aggression, socialization, and adventurousness are influenced by this stage.
Of course this is not to suggest that we come to life as complete and fully functioning beings. Far from it. However we do arrive 'wired' as it were in distinct and unchangeable ways. Typical little boys will be more aggressive than typical little girls. Most little girls will achieve language proficiency earlier than most little boys.
However there are too, many of us that, in whole or part, possess the brain characteristics of the other gender. Brain sex theory does, finally account for 'some' of what may be the causal factors in Transgender and Gay orientations.
While I don't wish to suggest that these theories are complete and 100% correct I do find much of the information in this book compelling. It does explain why there are 4 times as many male gays as there are lesbians. In fact the vast number of all sexual anomalies occur in men.
Perhaps this is just an overt example of the default fetal state being female. Disruption in normal development will obviously be more common in a fetus that is being transformed form the default state to the male state. In a world where environmental and chemical pollutants abound, many of which are estrogenic, should we be surprised that so many male children are born with such variations.
I should note at this point as a member of the male variation fraternity I am not judging these variations. Rather I am in search of the reasons that I am... as I am. Having been born with what I have come to believe is for all intensive purposes a feminized brain I can now come to a new level of understanding of my Transgender orientation.
If you should choose to read the book Brain Sex I would suggest the effort as merely a beginning to your study. While the book is compelling and does explain much, there is much yet to be learned. It is my fond wish that some of this knowledge will be the foundation upon which we can develop an understanding of each other that is more individual than genderal.
That is, if there are, in fact, more than 2 genders we need to look at the individual rather than his/her sex organs. Since we will never see the most important sex organ in the body, the brain, we must begin to look beyond the obvious and delve into each other being if we hope to truly understand anyone.
Perhaps I will be wandering round on this Earth with you all long enough to see a world where it is simply enough to be a positive addition to that world. Where the prime directive is to "Live and let live". Where it will be more important to the society who you hurt rather than who you love. If only that day could be today...;)
Eh!!! (Old Canadian Anachronism)
© 1997 - Jennifer Lynn