Sexuality: Home

So much of great literature centers on explorations of gender, sex, and sexuality. What does it mean to be a proper man or woman; what if one cannot be properly called either? Should one wield one's sexual power politically? What is the relation between law, divine or secular, and sexuality? These are just some of the questions that this volume examines through an analysis of a wide range of texts.

The Psychology of Sex and Gender offers a full and vibrant picture of the field, providing students with contemporary examples, balanced coverage of men and women, and a grounding in psychological science. Meeting the needs of gender science today, the authors present classic and cutting-edge research findings, historical contexts, examples from popular culture, cross-cultural universality and variation, and coverage of non-binary identities. In keeping with the growing scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL), in each chapter students are asked to think critically, to identify and evaluate their own myths and misconceptions, and to participate in real-world debates on topics at the forefront of the field.

The term "gender" was first distinguished from "sex" in the 1950s when psychologists began to discuss the idea of "gender roles," behaviors and responsibilities given to people by a society rather than flowing from their biology. Since then, leaders across disciplines have sought to better understand the roles of biology, psychology, and culture on gender. New language has emerged alongside rich scientific inquiry and research. Increased visibility of transgender and nonbinary communities has brought awareness to a range of gender diverse experiences, while legal battles, wage disparities, and health inequities continue to prove gender's relevancy in today's world. In this book, Laura Erickson-Schroth and Benjamin Davis guide readers through the knowns and unknowns of gender, asking questions such as: What is the difference between sex, gender identity, and gender expression? Were ancient societies matriarchal? How different are male and female brains, really? What role does language play in the ways we think about gender? What do we know about sex and gender in non-human species? What are the current frontiers in gender equality? Gender: What Everyone Needs to Know® is an easy-to-read guide that takes readers on a much-needed tour of perspectives on gender and identity in the 21st century. The book is written in a question-and-answer format, and Erickson-Schroth and Davis cover topics such as current definitions; the history of gender as concept; theÂrole of biology, psychology, and culture on gender; and gender norms over time and across the globe.

Once we understand that gender is distinct from sex, a whole world of possibilities open up, along with the potential for confusion. Shifting attitudes about the roles of men and women have allowed younger generations to refuse to be pigeonholed into conventional gender norms. As a result, the 21st century seems ripe for a gender revolution. The viewpoints in this volume approach gender from a variety of perspectives, providing readers with food for thought about where gender comes from, how we can make sense of its importance, and where it might be headed.