Why Gender Matters

What Parents and Teachers Need to Know About the Emerging Science of Sex Differences

By: Leonard Sax MD PhD

Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright

A revised and updated edition (with more than 70% new material) of the classic book about innate differences between boys and girls and how best to parent and teach girls and boys successfully, with new chapters on sexual orientation and on transgender and intersex kids.

Back in 2005, the first edition of Why Gender Matters broke ground in illuminating the differences between boys and girls—how they perceive the world differently, how they learn differently, how they process emotions and take risks differently. Dr. Sax argued that in failing to recognize these hardwired differences between boys and girls, we ended up reinforcing damaging stereotypes, medicalizing misbehavior, and failing to help kids to reach their full potential. In the intervening decade, the world has changed, with an avalanche of new research which supports, deepens, and expands Dr. Sax's work. This revised and updated edition includes new findings about how boys and girls interact differently with social media and video games; a new discussion of research on gender non-conforming, LGB, and transgender kids, new findings about how girls and boys see differently, hear differently, and even smell differently; and new material about the medicalization of misbehavior.

©2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2017 Leonard Sax

Very valuable resource

I'm currently listening to "Why Gender Matters" by Leonard Sax and am super impressed. It confirms so many things I've observed as both a mom and teacher. The gist: Biological differences are real and by disregarding them we're inadvertently perpetuating gender stereotypes because we don't allow our children to develop to the best of their potential. Boys and girls are not better or worse in any given subject but learn differently and if we teach them appropriately we achieve better results across the board. He's sharing a lot of facts and ideas that I think all parents and teachers should know but most of us probably never heard of. 🙃

A must-read/listen for parents

Finally, someone who values science over political ideology. I love the data-driven approach and conclusions.

Excellent Information

Information necessary for anyone who interacts with children, and helpful for anyone who interacts with people.

Great info for parents!

Common sense approach to understanding this topic which is lost in today’s society. Using gender differences to aid in education rather than force conformity by erasing our differences

Eye opening

My wife and I are currently pregnant, well my wife is currently carrying said child, and I have heard about Dr. Sax in some videos so I decided to check out this book and by god there is a lot of information in here and it all makes sense and is a great book for any parent or teacher. The differences between boys and girls is astronomical even though it may seem so small to us, it can literally be the difference between good education and jail time. Should be mandatory reading for any teacher or new parent!

Very relevant during this time

Fair written book with opinions that are backed by research. I would recommend to any parent

Essential parenting read

Saxon expertly employs scientific studies of humans & primates, and anecdotal stories from a 30 year career as a physician to illustrate the degree in which boys & girls differ. This is most importantly a guide of how to approach those differences for those who educate, raise, and associate with children. The work expertly explains that ignoring those differences, in hopes of erasing them, only reinforces harmful stereotypes that hurt both sexes alike.

Must read parents of child w/ identity issues

Dr. Sax presents the facts in an extremely compassionate and loving way. I think everyone should read this book!

Amazing

This book of amazing. If only we would implement this in our kids and lives. Society would be better for it.

Very applicable

This author does an incredible job of accurately and scientifically discussing the differences between men and women, and why these differences are important and necessary. Very informative and useful.