The psychology of gender and sexuality : an introduction

". . . a particularly well-wrought and intelligent book. It provides an extensive introduction to traditional psychological approaches, while acknowledging their weaknesses, and in a judicious and detailed review the authors take us through a fascinating survey of the constructionist and discursive modes of enquiry and what they reveal about sex and gender. This will make not only an excellent textbook, but is good reading as well." - Rom Harre,Linacre College, Oxford and Georgetown University * To what extent are gender and sexuality 'programmed in the genes' and to what extent are they acquired through learning and from culture? * What is wrong with traditional ways in which psychology has addressed these topics and what better alternatives are there? * What do these new approaches have to offer us in understanding our own gender and sexuality, our life experiences and our relationships? Gender and sexuality permeate our lives and have a profound influence on who we are and what we feel, think and do. This book provides a fundamental and wide-ranging introduction to different psychological approaches to this field. It reviews both traditional and current theorization, reflecting the contradictory approaches that try to explain how gender and sexuality are acquired, their impact on identity, and their influence on life-styles, life-opportunities and life-choices. The Psychology of Gender and Sexuality is unique in providing a comprehensive introduction to both gender and sexuality. Using examples that are highly relevant to today's generation of students, it encourages the reader to explore the implications of the various theoretical approaches for men and women and their relationships with each other. This is a lively and readable textbook for general introductory courses and an ideal starting point for more advanced specialist courses on these topics.