Product Description
A lively, thought—provoking exploration of the latest theory and practice in the psychology of women and gender

Edited by Rhoda Unger, a pioneer in feminist psychology, this handbook provides an extraordinarily balanced, in—depth treatment of major contemporary theories, trends, and advances in the field of women and gender. Bringing together contributions from leading U.S. and international scholars, it presents integrated coverage of a variety of approaches—ranging from traditional experiments to postmodern analyses. Conceptual models discussed include those that look within the individual, between individuals and groups, and beyond the person—to the social—structural frameworks in which people are embedded, as well as biological and evolutionary perspectives. Multicultural and cross—cultural issues are emphasized throughout, including key variables such as sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and social class.

Researchers and clinicians alike will appreciate the thorough review of the latest thinking about gender and its impact on physical and mental health—which includes the emerging trends in feminist therapy and sociocultural issues important in the treatment of women of color. In addressing developmental issues, the book offers thought—provoking discussions of new research into possible biological influences on gender—specific behaviors; the role of early conditioning by parents, school, and the media; the role of mother and mothering; gender in old age; and more. Power and gender, as well as the latest research findings on American men’s ambivalence toward women, sexual harassment, and violence against women, are among the timely topics explored in viewing gender as a systemic phenomenon.

Handbook of the Psychology of Women and Gender is an important resource for mental health researchers and practitioners, as well as scholars in a variety of disciplines who want to stay current with the latest psychological/psychosocial thinking on women and gender. ... Read more

Product Description
An exploration of the diverse presentations of gender dysphoria and how it affects an individual's physical, psychological, social, and sexual adjustment, Gender Dysphoria provides comprehensive and applicable treatment approaches available for a wide spectrum of presentations of this disorder. The need for evaluating and treating gender dysphoria in the context of the gender dysphoric client's overall mental and physical health is stressed. International experts in the clinical management of gender dysphoria contribute valuable information on contemporary approaches in assessment, psychological and medical treatment, and adjustment of individuals with gender identity disorders.

In Gender Dysphoria, clinicians will find important information on hormone therapy options and their physical results and side effects, and the effectiveness of sex reassignment surgery in improving a gender dysphoric client's adjustment. This comprehensive book covers a wealth of topics essential for clinicians who treat gender dysphoria, including:

• terminology and classification of gender identity disorders
  
• a validation of the “Cross-Gender Questionnaire,” a newly developed clinical assessment tool
  
• reported regrets of post-surgical transsexuals
  
• the affective component of gender dysphoria in young boys
  
• a model for identifying and treating gender identity disorder in females
  
• a thorough description of a comprehensive treatment approach for a wide spectrum of presentations of gender dysphoria
  
  Filled with useful information on the clinical management of gender identity disorders, Gender Dysphoria meets the practical needs of clinical sexologists, psychotherapists, counselors, social workers, physicians, sex researchers, social scientists, and specialists who evaluate and treat gender dysphoria.

Product Description
Authors demonstrate that most of the claims about sex and gender are not well supported by research, and then provide readers with constructive critical tools they can apply to this wealth of research to come to realistic, constructive conclusions. All of this is provided in a concise, inexpensive volume by a best-selling trade author and instructor team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Slim book that all sex/gender researchers should read
The Caplans provide an informative account of biases that have existed for centuries in research on sex and gender, and of how these biases have been used to justify inequalities in power between men and women. Bias begins when researchers decide what topic to study (e.g., the "harmful" effects of menstruation on women's lives). Biases can then affect the way research is designed and conducted, and the interpretations of the results. The authors cite examples of the harmful consequences of biases in research such as the inaccurate and exaggerated beliefs we have about females inferiority in mathematical and spatial abilities, sex differences in aggression, and notions of PMS. This slim, informative book is worth reading...

Biased reviews from a social constructionist perspective
When it comes to sex differences, it appears still that there are two oppositional camps:some people are "for them" whileothers are "against them." The authors of this book clearly fall into thelatter category. They takethe perspective that there are no fundamental,evolved behavioral sexdifferences-- whatever differences do exist arepresumed to bedue to sexist socialization.There is very littlediscussion of modern adaptationism or nature-nurture interactionism here.While one might expect such a perspective from authors of a book of radicalfeminist or social constructionist essays,or perhaps from a book titledsomething like "The Case AgainstSex Differences," it isdisconcerting and surprising to see such an uneven analysis in a book thatsuggests it is about applying critical thinking skillsto evaluateresearch studies.

The book begins in Chapter 1 with the section headingstitled: "The Cycle of Bias" and "DangeriousAssumptions."The authors firstcast suspicion on the motives of sexdifferences researchers:"...there mustbe a reason that (somescientists) choose to spend their lives trying tofind sex and genderdifferences" (p. 8). And why might that reason be?The answer isfound in their rather sophomoric statement that "since most 'proof' of differences between groups is used to 'prove' that one group is betterthan the other, and scientists are aware of this, we need to ask whatmotivates them to pursue such research...Many(researchers)...seemto be intent on justifying the treatment of females as inferior..." (p. 8). Obviously, very few serious scientists use the word"proof" in either the formal publications or even in informalconversations.Fewer still arrive at value judgments that one sex isgenerally "inferior" to the other. Instead, virually all sexdifferences researchers, including the well known figures such as Kimuraand Benbow, supportequality of opportunity even in interest or skillareas where sex differences may indeed exist. This mischaracterization ofthe motives and values ofsex differences researcherscasts doubt aboutthe integrity of the rest of the book.

Indeed, the mischaracterizationscontinue in Chapter 2, "A BriefHistorical Perspective onSex-Difference Research." The authors uncritcally present Kramarae andTreichler's (1985) definition of sociobiology as"an adrocentricscience which persistently depicts males as the norm while defining femalesin relation to them, naming females as passive and inferior"(p. 18).Which sociobiologists?One is unlikely to find such perspectives in anymodern evolutionary theory and research.To the contrary, the recent booksby Sara Hrdy ("Mother Nature"), HelenFisher ("The FirstSex"), Linda Mealey ("Sex Differences") argue convincinglythat femalesactively and assertively look out for their own reproductiveinterests.

The authors state that "Sociobiologists often base theirtheories onthe assumption that existing human behavior patterns are goodthingsbecause they are the patterns that survived as humans have evolved,and therefore they must help to ensure the survival of the humanspecies." (p. 18).And, when commenting on research by Buss andothers thatsuggests that females preferentially mate with high status,resourcerich males, the Caplans state that "he (Buss) does notpresent persuasive evidence that the humanspecies would die out otherwise..." (p. 18).The Caplans are apparently unaware thatthe"for the good of the species" perspective withered in biology inthe 1960s and 1970s with the development of Hamilton's inclusive fitnesstheory, George's Williams' critique of group selection, and Richard Dawkins"selfish gene" theory.Further, most evolutionists do not committhe naturalistic fallacy by presuming that what is natural is good.TheCaplans are misinformed about sociobiology / evolutionarypsychology, andthey proceed to misinform their readers.

Only seven pages of the entire123 page book (pages 23 - 30) present a discussion of research design,threatsvalidity (although threats to internal and external validity arenot differentiated), and meta analysis.The remainingchaptersexaminesex difference research onspatial, verbal, and quantitative abilities,and sex differencesin aggression, masochism, dependency, and hormones. In each of these chapters, the authors reserve their critiques to studiesthat have found sex differences, particularly those in politicallysensitive areas.They omit a critical reviewof studies that report nosex differences.An informative discussion of the interaction ofbiological and social factorsis entirely missing.

Given the above, thisbook borders on being more of a political tractthan a informed study andcritique of research methods. Their misunderstanding of even the basicpostulates of modernevolutionary theories of sex differences is tiresome, if not inexcusable.

Michael E. Mills, Ph.D. Associate ProfessorPsychology Department Loyola Marymount University ... Read more

Product Description
Drawn from a brilliant array of voices primarily from psychology, but also from other social sciences and humanities, this unique reader of creative and intellectually provocative essays investigates the social construction of gender.For the past several decades, those involved with the study of the psychology of women and gender have been struggling for recognition within the framework of psychology. This volume brings together the writings from psychology, philosophy, psychoanalysis, history, women's studies, education and sociology that critique mainstream thinking and exemplify new ways of creating inquiry. ... Read more

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How do boys come to perceive of themselves as masculine and girls as feminine? Stoller explores this question by discussing development and disorder in gender identity, demonstrating how aberrant conditions can help to understand gender development in less unusual men and women. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

EARLY BOOK ON "GENDER DISORDERS"
Robert J. Stoller, MD
Presentations of Gender

(New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 1985) 219 pages

Continuing the observations contained in his earlier books,
Stoller draws on further years of experience with clients
who came to him with "gender disorders", an expression
that seems to cover any variation from standard sex or gender:
boys who were 'feminine', transsexuals, cross-dressers,
homosexuals, & people with sexual 'fetishes'.

The analysis continues to be basically Freudian,
looking for the smothering mother to explain these variations.
Stoller continues to confuse a number of phenomena
which this reviewer believes are independent.(See James Park's
Variations of Sex and Gender: Six Phenomena Frequently Confused:
[...])

Stoller believes that the close-binding mother is going to make
her sons 'feminine', especially if the father is absent or weak.
Perhaps these beliefs originated with Freud,
but they still have a strong hold on the popular mind.
Stoller seems to put the variations (for boys) on a single continuum:
(1) becoming 'feminine',
(2) cross-dressing,
(3) becoming homosexual,
(4) becoming a male-to-female transsexual.

But these phenomena are probably independent of one another,
arising from different sources:
(1) Femininity is enculturated over years of socialization.
(2) Cross-dressing occurs for several different reasons.
(3) Homosexual sex-scripts (as well as hetero) are imprinted.
(4) And male/female self-designation ("I am a boy." or "I am a girl.")
is imprinted before age 18 months.
If Stoller had lived long enough to use these new hypotheses,
he might have made much better sense of what his clients were experiencing.

If you would like to know about other books along these lines,
search the Internet for the following exact words:
"VARIATIONS OF SEX & GENDER BIBLIOGRAPHY".

James Leonard Park, author of
Variations of Sex & Gender:
Six Phenomena Frequently Confused. ... Read more

Product Description

How do gender and sexual difference influence the erotic transference?

Gender, Countertransference and the Erotic Transference offers new insights into working with complex transference and countertransference phenomena. Including views from a wide spectrum of theoretical backgrounds, it makes a unique contribution to discourse on the themes of gender, sexuality and the erotic transference.

The contributors are highly experienced clinicians with international reputations as theorists in the fields of analytical psychology, psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Illustrated with closely observed clinical examples and detailed theoretical discussion, innovations in technique are introduced on themes including developmental mourning, female perversion, the meaning and purpose of the erotic transference, the dying patient, lesbian homoerotic transference and supervision of the erotic transference. Countertransference is vividly explored in chapters on sexual difference, the therapist’s body and the challenging topic of perversion in the analyst. The book is divided into four sections:

• gender and the erotic transference
• the erotic transference and the symbolic function
• women working with women
• historical perspectives on women working with men.

Gender, Countertransference and the Erotic Transference extends existing theory, highlighting the symbolic nature of the transference/countertransference dynamic. It will be compelling reading for experienced clinicians, students and trainees in the fields of psychoanalysis, analytical psychology and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as counselling, the arts therapies and social work.

Product Description
Gender isn't what it used to be. What was deviant for baby boomers has become mainstream for their offspring. Gender as we once understood it is over.In "End of Gender", Shari L. Thurer argues that we are in the midst of a new sexual revolution.One, she argues, where gender categories are blurring not just at the 'fringes' of society, but in mainstream lifestyle, media, fashion, and art. So, why is this cultural phenomenon happening now? And what does it mean? Thurer explores topics such as:* Psychoanalysis Meets Postmodern Sex* Postmodernism For Those Who Missed It* Men are from Earth, Women are from Earth, and so are QueersIn lively, non-technical language, and with sometimes surprising case studies from her twenty-five years as a psychologist, Thurer answers key gender questions, combining complex postmodern theory with cutting edge psychoanalysis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A reader
What a fabulous piece of work.Dr. Thurer combines an astute clinical eye to take up queer theory in a way that is intelligent, humorous, and enjoyable to read. Bravo!

Must-read for anyone interested in sex!
The End of Gender is, by far, the most comprehensive and best-researched book on human sexuality written by a psychoanalyst.Thurer writes in a highly readable style and her humor is easily detectible.She writes this book as a practicing clinician hoping to better understand the gender and sexuality continuum expressed in her patients.In achieving this goal, she incorporates biology, neuroscience, sociology, queer theory, feminist theory, and various schools of psychoanalysis.While this sounds intimidating, Thurer remains readable as she successfully convinces us that sexuality and gender are constructs that cannot be contained in the boxes we have traditionally shoved them in.

Thurer has written an amazing, powerful book.The first half reads like a cultural critique whereas the second half focuses on a variety of theories that are almost beyond comprehension for the layperson.But Thurer writes well, and it is nearly impossible to resist the beauty of her arguments.While this book does not put forth a psychological theory of gender and sexuality by which a psychologist may formulate workable hypotheses for use in clinical practice, it does raise important questions about the commonly held views regarding gender and sexuality.After finishing this text, the reader is left with a new understanding of the world.I highly recommend this book to anyone attempting to understand gender and sexuality as they exist today.

Amazing job!
This clear, lively book offers an overview of current debates about the nature of gender and sexuality in fields ranging from literary and cultural studies to the social, behavioral and biological sciences--fields among which there has been deplorably minimal cross-fertilization.I developed one of the early college courses on gender roles in the 1970s;were I still teaching, what a resource it would be!While threading her way through the mazes of contemporary psychoanalyic, postmodern, and queer theories, Shari Thurer, a clinician as well as a scholar, never loses sight of real people who are trying to make sense of their lives.

Should be required reading
If you've ever struggled with the opaque writing style of some queer theorists, like Judith Butler, this is a book you must own.Not only does Thurer do a brilliant job of synthesizing queer/post modern theory down to clearly understandable terms, she goes one further by illustrating how practitioning Freudian psychoanalysts can employ queer theory in treatment of patients.
End of Gender's "postmodernism for those who missed it"makes it an accessible reference that deserves its place on the required reading lists of Queer and Gender Studies classes across the country. ... Read more

Product Description
A guide for the appropriate and respectful care of patients by health professionals, this book deals with the volatile subjects of sexuality, gender, and touch in the context of the doctor/patient relationship. Its purpose is to promote mutual understanding and respect so that both patient and doctor can be spared harm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Behind Closed Doors: Gender,Sexuality & Touch
Everyone should read this book.It is definately not just for Doctors. I think knowing what is expected of Doctor and patient alike is veryimportant as far as touch is concerned.I had some questions about what isand is not acceptable in the Doctor's office.This book made that veryclear. The book is very easy to read and understand.I would recomend,Behind Closed Doors to everyone.

Behind Closed Doors: Gender,Sexuality & Touch
Everyone should read this book.It is definately not just for Doctors.I think knowing what is expected of Doctor and patient alike is veryimportant as far as touch is concerned.I had some questions about what isand is not acceptable in the Doctor's office.This book made that veryclear.The book is very easy to read and understand.I would recomend,Behind Closed Doors to everyone.

Required reading for all health professionals!
Any health professional that thinks they don't need to learn more about this topic is naive. Dr.Redleaf delivers a thought-provoking book that can help doctors better serve their patients and protect themselves. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a comprehensive introduction to sex and gender theories, research, and issues, focusing on social psychological and feminist perspectives. The book examines the similarities and differences between women and men, discusses where that knowledge comes from, and explains how that knowledge may itself be shaped and limited by cultural perceptions. This new edition has been thoroughly revised with up-to-date research citations for all chapters and more current examples. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Unbearable "Text" with an Unmistakable Agenda
This Lips woman must have a chip on her shoulder the size of Maine.I have no idea what caused her to hate men and any kind of heterosexual relationship, but her agenda is overwhelmingly evident in this "textbook."When asked why the professor at my very Conservative university chose this as text for her class, she responded that it's unfortunately the "most balanced textbook on the subject."If that is true, I weep for the study, as this book is extremely slanted against men and heterosexuals, as well as any kind of majority.The facts were skewed, the writing was dripping with poorly-masked disdain and the style and format made the subject tedious and frustrating.I quite enjoyed the class and discussions involved, but our chats regularly included bashing of Hilary Lips and her rubbish text.With each chapter, I found myself more and more annoyed and often finished off my reading by throwing the book across the room.

If this is an absolutely required text for a class you're taking, find it for as cheap as you possibly can.Otherwise, steer clear of this horrible rag.You could easily learn more, and more accurately, from doing independent research or from another author.

Extremely anti-male
Like others, I was told this was perhaps the most unbiased book on the market for psychology of gender. It very well might be, but don't let such an endorsement fool you: the book is extremely anti-male, presenting males in a poor light whenever feasible. The book clearly focuses on debunking popular anti-woman stereotypes and urban myths, but does so with an equally clear offensive mindset towards men. Use of citation is interesting to note, as others have pointed out: several sections proclaim statistical information without a citation, and many of inferences she presents as fact are really from singular studies with questionable methodologies. A large number of the studies she cites as having important results and subsequently draws strong conclusions from have actually never been replicated; while she does have the scientific integrity to present some of the conflicting research, the reader is lead to believe that only one study has had conflicting results, when many times this is not the case.

Perhaps the thing that bothered me the most is her systematic manipulation of factual statistics. For example, when comparing male-female athletic performance, rather than citing current data she looks back to find instances where the current world records have over-taken athletes from decades past. Rather than citing research that actually compares men and women, she presents studies on all-female groups as a valid basis to make comparisons (in other words, we get tallies of female performance but not of male, yet the reader is told this indicates similarities between male and female performance). By using other clever manipulations, she is able to present information as saying one thing while it may actually say something different; an example would be comparison between "7 out of 100 men and 5 out of 1000 women". Additionally, the analysis she gives studies is biased. When results show that men out-performing women in a given area, she disputes the study as unsound or unscientific as fast as she can. But, when the study she cites shows women outperforming men, or fits in with the section topic, she has nothing to say.

Her efforts to undermine cultural norms and reverse negative stereotypes of women are highly commendable, which is the only reason this book gets a 2 instead of 1, despite the fact that I cannot say that I actually learned anything new.There is a wealth of information out there that says the stereotypes against women are undeserved and have no basis. Unfortunately, she seriously undermines this message with this book by presenting such a biased way. The message she ends up getting across is "society is male driven, therefore society is evil and wrong" which is an appropriate message for another publication, but not for psychology textbook on the topic of gender differences and similarities.

Blah
Our professor told us that this is the least biased of the gender books out there.If that is true we are in trouble.This book was extremely anti-man; and if you were a minority male you were still scum, but not quit as bad.It had many interesting points and I did learn some from it.My biggest complaint is that about 80% of the studies cited in this book are self report.Then they cite them as fact. ... Read more

Product Description
Gender and Sexual Agency considers how heterosexual Latino American, Asian American and white youth negotiate sexual encounters. Written in an approachable style for undergraduates, Albanesi presents intimate portraits of both young men and young women that illustrate how our experience of gender informs our willingness to exercise sexual agency. ... Read more

Product Description
Questions of Gender is a text/reader featuring readings on various topics related to the intersection of Gender Studies and Psychology, designed specifically for an undergraduate audience.With coverage of such key topics asDefining Sex and Gender, Cross Cultural Perspective on Gender, Gender Identity, Gender and Relationships, the text can either be used as a main text or a supplementary reader. Questions of Genderincludes many challenging primary sources written by important gender scholars, and each piece is framed by useful pedagogy (introductory essays, review questions, reflection questions, chapter summaries, key terms) to aid in student comprehension. Among the contributors are the following notable male and female gender scholars: Anne Fausto-Sterling, Janet Hyde, David Buss, Kay Deaux, Patricia Hill-Collins, Kenneth Dion, Alice Eagly, Michael Kaufman & Harry Brod, Susan Fiske, Rhoda Unger, and many more. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Transvestites and Transsexuals--Technical Background
This book is an excellent summary of the psychological research on the subject and presents a theory of the origins and process of heterosexual transvestites.It establishes a research methodology and the results. However, due to the population available the results can not meet completeand definitive research standards and the results are therefore suppositionbased on the available data.

Found the book to be very technical, but itprovides much background on past reserach.It presents its data,assumptions and qualifies the reserach results very well.

If interestedin the the technical material on this subject, it is well worth the effortfor the nonscientist.The social scientist will have to draw their ownconclusions. ... Read more

Product Description

Girls, Boys and Junior Sexualities takes an insightful and in-depth look at the hidden worlds of young children's sexualities. Based upon extensive group interviews and observation, the author illustrates how sexuality is embedded in children's school-based cultures and gender identities. From examining children's own views and experiences, the book explores a range of topical and sensitive issues, including how:

• the primary school is a key social arena for 'doing' sexuality
• sexuality shapes children's friendships and peer relations
• being a 'proper' girl or boy involves investing in a heterosexual identity
• children use gendered or sexual insults to maintain gender and sexual norms.

Grounded in children's real-life experiences, this book traces their struggles, anxieties, desires and pleasures as they make sense of their emerging sexualities. It also includes frank and open discussions of the pressures of compulsory heterosexuality, the boyfriend/girlfriend culture, misogyny and sexual harassment.
Girls, Boys and Junior Sexualities is a timely and powerful resource for researchers, educationalists and students in childhood studies, sociology and psychology and will be of great interest to professionals and policy makers working with young children.

Product Description
Gender encompasses biological sex but extends beyond it to the socially prescribed roles deemed appropriate for each sex by the culture in which we live. The gender roles we each carry out are highly individualistic, built on our biological and physical traits, appearance and personality, life experiences such as childhood, career and education, and history of sexual and romantic interactions. Each element influences perceptions and expectations. Gender-related experiences influence and shape the ways we think about others and ourselves including self-image, behaviour, mood, social advancement and coping strategies. This new book brings together leading international research devoted to this subject. ... Read more

Product Description
This book situates the essential areas of psychology within a cultural perspective, exploring the relationship of culture to psychological phenomena, from introduction and research foundations to clinical and social principles and applications.
• Includes contributions from an experienced, international team of researchers and teachers
• Brings together new perspectives and research findings with established psychological principles
• Organized around key issues of contemporary cross-cultural psychology, including ethnocentrism, diversity, gender and sexuality and their role in research methods
• Argues for the importance of culture as an integral component in the teaching of psychology ... Read more

Product Description

The study of welfare states and social policy has enjoyed growing popularity in the last three decades. This field has been characterized by a growing level of theorization, richer case study analyses, inclusion of additional sources of welfare provision (non-profit, market-based, informal, family) and fields of study (globalization, gender, ethnicity, immigration, children), and increasingly complex, accurate and up-to-date cross-national comparative analyses.

One of the subjects that have been the focus of much interest has been that of families, women and children – their social well being and their legal and economic status in the welfare state. The common assumption is that there is a clear relationship and interaction between the structuring of the welfare state and the well-being and social status of these subs groups. Cross-national comparative analyses have shown that this interaction differs significantly from country to country, depending on the culture, religion as well as on its welfare regime.

Scholars are engaged in diverse efforts to understand the differences between these policies in diverse welfare states, the reasons for these differences and their results.

This volume deals with these issues from a unique welfare regime perspective. While over the last two decades research on welfare states has generally tended to assume that these nations can be divided into welfare regimes with common characteristics, there has been much ambivalence towards, and much less study of, the welfare states in the Mediterranean region. This volume focuses on these welfare states and makes the case for regarding the nations in this region as belonging to a common family of nations. It then seeks to compare policies towards children, families and gender in these nations.

The volume will seek to further this research agenda by including an initial section that offers an overview of the Mediterranean welfare states, and then discusses issues of children, families and gender in general. The second part of the book will offer detailed country studies of these issues, all authored by leading experts in the various countries.

Customer Reviews (1)

It reads like a term paper
The book had lots of good information but was hard for me to wade through. It's a series of college papers on the subject of gender and two-spirit people. I think the second half was most helpful (the stories of several two-spirits). Like I said, there was lots of info, it was just a little hard to follow. ... Read more