Challenging scientific bias in gender difference research

¶ … Truth about Girls and Boys: Challenging Toxic Stereotypes about Our

Children. Caryl Rivers

Press, 2011).

Major Conceptual Framework

The major conceptual framework of the authors is that all of the so-called "scientific" research purporting to support a biological basis for the observed behavioral differences in males and females is fatally flawed. According to the authors, the empirical research represents a mix of biased assumptions, biased formats, and biased data interpretation to support the a-priori beliefs of researchers that a biological basis exists for observed differences in the comparative behavior of the genders. They present various peer-reviewed empirical studies and examine the manner in which different types of biases, error, and deliberate obfuscation of data are responsible for the conclusions that males and females are inherently predisposed to different perceptions, reactions, relative abilities, talents, and interests.

More specifically, the authors provide undeniable evidence that studies purporting to support the theory of gender essentialism reflect flawed sampling and methodological designs, "cherry-picked" data, inaccurate generalizations, unsupported conclusions, conclusions clearly contradictory to the data, and even deliberately fudged data, citations, and supposed citations for conclusions that, on examination of the primary sources, actually have no genuine relevance to the argument.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that the influences of social culture, social learning, and parental encouragement and expectation are the predominant causes of any observable differences in the behavior of human beings in relation to gender. To the extent conditioning promotes "sensitivity" in girls and "dominance" in boys (for just one of many examples) or traits generally associated with femininity and masculinity (respectively), those influences will be reflected in gender-based tendencies. However, all of those differences are functions of external influences and there are virtually no identifiable inherent differences between males and females absent those influences.