Final Thoughts

i just finished reading the book! i'm sad that it's over but i feel pretty accomplished too, like maybe now i'm an almost-female-brain-expert or something. at any rate, i've learned a lot!

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the epilogue was a nice conclusion to the book. There were some really good quotes that i thought would be helpful for our paper when trying to sum up main ideas and such:

"If i had to impart one lesson to women that i learned through writing this book, it would be that understanding our innate biology empowers us to better plan our future" (159).

"My intentions for this book were to help women through the various shifts in their lives: shifts so big they actually create changes in a woman's perception of reality, her values, and what she pays attention to" (160).

"The fear of discrimination based on differences runs deep, and for many years assumptions about sex differences went scientifically unexamined for fear that women wouldn't be able to claim equality with men" (161).

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i really appreciated the appendix on Hormone Therapy, even though i still feel confused about whether or not it's a good idea. there are so many pros and cons to each side that i don't know how i'll ever choose the right option. i liked the slightly indignant tone that Brizendine takes in this sections over the lack of concrete evidence and research related to hormone therapy in women, particularly in the area of testosterone use. Researchers need to start paying more attention to women and their sexual needs :P but i have to say, i was really excited when i read about the study that ends in 2010; i'm glad that there will be more research available when i start menopause!

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Postpartum Depression. oh man. i have a legitimate fear of that specific kind of crazy. after learning about it in my anthropology class last term i felt quite empathetic toward the women Brizendine described in this part of the book. All of the evolutionary adaptations women have accrued that require a vast amount of support and resources as they start caring for children, and how easy it is to biologically/hormonally feel ill-equipped to raise a new infant. even though i never want to have children, i feel quite positive that i would develop PPD should i indeed procreate. i am unbalanced and flighty at the best of times, there is no doubt in my mind that i would become overwhelmed and feel helpless with a new baby.

I am glad that Brizendine added this section. I feel that sometimes women suffering from PPD are stigmatized because they aren't "focusing on their child, but instead wallowing in self pity" or whatever. i liked the quote "women are ashamed because they are expected to be so happy at the birth of their child" (183). I think the idea of motherhood has an unfair reputation for being the best thing in the world, and how could a new mother ever be unhappy when she has a new baby to look after. but i think it would be so exhausting and stressful. and it's okay to feel that way. no one can be on cloud nine all the time, especially if they're losing sleep from caring for an infant, and new mothers shouldn't be held to that expectation.

(okay, i'm getting off my soapbox now) ;)

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the section on sexual orientation was interesting. i remember learning in psych 101 that there was no scientific explanation for lesbians; i also remember being really pissed about that conclusion. i thought the theories of testosterone exposure in utero were really interesting, and plausible. Just like the women who received testosterone supplements and experienced an increased libido (a male-oriented trait), it seems credible that a fetus exposed to more testosterone may exhibit more male-oriented traits like sexual orientation.

i did think it was interesting that men are twice as likely to be gay as women. i have a sneaking suspicion that it's just because gay men are so fabulous ;)