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Brain, Sex and Ideology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Catherine Vidal
Catherine Vidal*
Affiliation:
Institut Pasteur, Paris

Abstract

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Since the 19th century, and despite tremendous progress in science, the topic of ‘brain and sex’ remains a matter of misleading interpretations, far beyond the field of science. The media are not solely responsible for this situation. Some scientific circles still actively promote the ideology of biological determinism in their attempt to explain differences in behaviour and cognitive abilities between men and women. Experimental data from brain imaging studies, cognitive tests or the discovery of new genes are often distorted to serve deterministic ideas. As biotechnologies and genetic engeneering represent today a new economic and lucrative challenge, the question of what is innate and what is acquired is becoming more and more significant, requiring vigilant scrutiny from us all.

Type
Research Article
Information
Diogenes , Volume 52 , Issue 4 , November 2005 , pp. 127 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © ICPHS 2005

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