Neurosexism

Neurosexism is defined as the assumption that behavioral differences between males and females stem from variations in brain development rather than from socialization. Neurosexism uses neuroscientific research to legitimize gender stereotypes and roles despite improper application or lack of scientific research. These sex differences are theorized to originate from early stages in fetal development during the growth of the brain, creating predispositions for behavior and abilities. Typical female behavior (e.g., greater emotional perception) is [Page 1243]explained by the introduction of hormones in early fetal development, allowing areas of the brain associated with stereotypical female behavior to develop normally, such as areas related to emotion. However, typical male behavior (e.g., greater math ability) is explained by hormones like testosterone inhibiting the development of areas associated with ...