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Material Girls

Why Reality Matters for Feminism
By Kathleen Stock
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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
Material Girls by Professor Kathleen Stock offers a timely and trenchant critique of gender identity theory, challenging the idea that an inner feeling of gender identity supersedes biological sex. Stock examines key philosophical arguments, from Simone de Beauvoir’s idea that one 'becomes' a woman to Judith Butler’s concept that language shapes biological reality. The book explores the role of biological sex across important areas including women-only spaces, healthcare, epidemiology, and political organisation, advocating for a clear and feminist discussion of reality. It concludes with a hopeful vision where trans rights activists and feminists collaborate on shared goals.
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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 contemporary debates on gender, feminism, philosophy, and social policy, especially those seeking a balanced and thoughtful examination of sex and gender identity.

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A timely and trenchant critique of the influential theory that we all have an inner feeling about our sex, known as a gender identity, and that this feeling is more socially significant than our biological sex

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 clear, concise, easy-to-read account of the issues between sex, gender and feminism . . . an important book' Evening Standard 'A call for cool heads at a time of great heat and a vital reminder that revolutions don't always end well' Sunday Times Material Girls is a timely and trenchant critique of the influential theory that we all have an inner feeling known as a gender identity, and that this feeling is more socially significant than our biological sex. Professor Kathleen Stock surveys the philosophical ideas that led to this point, and closely interrogates each one, from De Beauvoir's statement that, 'One is not born, but rather becomes a woman' (an assertion she contends has been misinterpreted and repurposed), to Judith Butler's claim that language creates biological reality, rather than describing it. She looks at biological sex in a range of important contexts, including women-only spaces and resources, healthcare, epidemiology, political organization and data collection. Material Girls makes a clear, humane and feminist case for our retaining the ability to discuss reality, and concludes with a positive vision for the future, in which trans rights activists and feminists can collaborate to achieve some of their political aims.

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?

Material Girls has been praised as a clear, concise, and important examination of the tensions between sex, gender, and feminism. The Sunday Times describes it as "a call for cool heads at a time of great heat," while the Evening Standard highlights its clarity and relief in presenting a comprehensive account of gender identity theory. Reviewers commend Stock's commitment to free speech, rigorous argument, and reasoned debate, with the Daily Telegraph calling it a "fearless, rigorous study" that is "brave" and "enlightening."

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349726625

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Fleet

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 256g

Pages: 320

Collections

Education & Reference Kathleen Stock Non-Fiction

About the Author

Kathleen Stock is a public philosopher, a freelance writer and a recovering academic.

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