I am not referring specifically to my brain or yours for that matter, I am speaking about the bestselling book “The Female Brain,” by Louann Brizendine, M.D. I completed this book in record time and was deeply disappointed. For a highly credentialed neuropsychiatrist, I had expected a riveting and informative read. On the contrary, this book was so poorly written that it was an insult to the female and male brains who would read it in the hopes of discovering something new about female gray matter.
Perhaps the author attempted to make the book accessible and marketable to the public, therefore she opted for a simplistic style, a breezy beach read, rather than a challenging late night read. Secondly, I felt that Brizendine stereotyped both men and women. It seemed that most of the women in her book were white, married or divorced upper class American professionals (like herself) who did not necessarily represent or speak to the experience of the rest of us women out there. Where were the African American, Latina, or Gay women? They were clearly invisible in this book. Are all of our brains the same – I’ll have one female generic brain to go please – could I get a side order of estrogen with it please??? Brizendine – how dare you infuriate us?
For example, she describes the typical female brain at adolescence to be so ditzy that it’s owner is preoccupied with shopping, talking on the phone, looking in the mirror and pursuing boys. I don’t personally recall this to echo my experience, although my adolescence was eons ago. Neither do I recall a similar experience when my daughter was an adolescent. She had poetry, music, soccer, and art on the brain….ok, I admit there may have been a boy here and there. Brizendine tackles a crucial and fascinating subject, yet falls short of enlightening the female or male brain for that matter! (No pun intended)!
