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Hysterical

Exploding the Myth of Gendered Emotions
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( 244 ratings, 32 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Hysterical by Dr Pragya Agarwal explores the deeply ingrained gender biases surrounding emotions from Ancient Greek times to the present. Combining history and science, Agarwal dismantles myths about innate emotional differences between men and women and highlights how these beliefs have contributed to the systemic subjugation of women. The book also envisions a future where emotions are free from gendered constraints, offering a fresh and critical perspective on societal norms.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in gender studies, psychology, history, and social science, as well as those curious about how emotions influence society and personal identity. Suitable for an academic audience or general readers seeking thoughtful popular science on gender and emotion.

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An urgent exploration of how the gendering of emotions came about, and what we can do to change these damaging stereotypes, by award-winning behavioural and data scientist Dr Prayga Agarwal

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2022: POPULAR SCIENCE

AN iNEWS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2022

A TELEGRAPH BIG IDEAS BOOK 2022

How we interpret emotions and act on them has been heavily gendered, as far back as Ancient Greek and Roman times, and—despite improvements in societal equality—continues to be today.

In Hysterical, Dr Pragya Agarwal delves into history and science to determine the truth about our notions of innate differences between the male and female experience of emotions. She examines the impact this has on men and women—especially the role it has played in the subjugation of women throughout history—and imagines how a future where emotions are ungendered might look.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Daily Telegraph calls it 'fascinating and ambitious' with wide resonance, while The Times praises its fun yet persuasive approach to debunking the myth that women are more emotional. The New Statesman notes its analytical depth, tracing gender ideologies back to medieval times. The Independent highlights Agarwal's clarity and engaging personal insights, particularly as a mother of twins, making the book both enlightening and relatable.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838853235

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 308g

Pages: 464

About the Author

Dr Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural and data scientist. She has held senior academic positions in the UK and USA for over fifteen years and is currently visiting professor of social inequities at Loughborough and a Visiting Fellow at University of Oxford. As well as numerous research papers, she is the author of three widely acclaimed non-fiction books, Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, Wish We Knew What to Say: Talking with Children about Race and (M)otherhood: On the choices of being a woman, and a book Standing Up To Racism for young children. Her writing has also appeared in the Guardian, Prospect, BBC Science Focus, Scientific American and New Scientist amongst others.

A passionate campaigner for racial and gender equity, Pragya has given keynote talks around the world. Pragya has been awarded the Transmission Prize for making complex scientific ideas accessible and the Nesta Crucible award for scientific innovation. In 2023, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Award, The Churchill Fellowship and British Library Fellowship.

@DrPragyaAgarwal | drpragyaagarwal.com

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