The Two Sexes

Maccoby's book is beautifully written and organized. In the first half she takes us on a journey from infancy through pre-school behavior, to elementary school and adolescence. Fascinating evidence is adduced for the formation of sex-segregated social groups, which are amazingly resistant in middle childhood to well-meaning adult attempts to force integration. In the second half...issues of sex roles in the workplace and in parenthood are discussed. A variety of explanations for the seemingly universal existence of sex role differentiation are proposed, from biology to evolutionary psychology. -- David H. Skuse * Nature * [Eleanor Maccoby's] book is an important contribution to what some social scientists call a 'two cultures approach' to gender. She views boys and girls as members of two distinct subcultures, each of which is characterized by radically different kinds of behavior...The Two Sexes is in many ways a tour de force, as it offers us cohesive and intelligent argument about gender that brings together diverse disciplinary concerns...Maccoby's book, as an insightful review of the literature supporting a two-cultures approach to gender, will undoubtedly win an important place on the millennial bookshelf. -- Kira Hall * Science * In this volume the eminent scholar Eleanor Maccoby has provided a highly readable account of gender development, a field in which her own research and perspective play a central role...This book represents a major contribution to the field of psychology. It provides a plausible hypothesis, an accessible and scholarly review of research findings, and a clear summary of three perspectives on the possible origin of preferences for same-gender playmates--the biological, socialization and cognitive perspectives. Particularly convincing was the argument that differential treatment by parents is an incomplete explanation for childhood gender segregation. The integrated conclusion acknowledges the complexity of gender differences and points to strategies for creating social change...In summary, this landmark work by a distinguished scientist will be certain to provoke discussion among feminist psychologists, the psychological community at large and members of the public. The Two Sexes is an original and important contribution to the current lively gender debates. -- Judith L. Gibbons * Feminism & Psychology * Heavy but worthwhile reading that can help us better understand those gender-based reading interests, how boys and girls see themselves in relation to others, and the ways in which gender identification is influenced. -- Mary Arnold * Kliatt * An absolutely marvelous new look at gender differences in behavior! Eleanor Maccoby has provided an immensely readable, and thought-provoking, reappraisal of the relevant research findings, which are presented throughout in ways that immediately bring to life what the findings mean in real-life situations. The basic message is that gender differences mainly operate in terms of their effects on social interactions. When boys and girls are by themselves, their behavior differs only slightly, but the behavior of groups of boys is very different from that of groups of girls. The implications for theory and practice that stem from this conclusion are considerable. The book is a 'must' for anyone interested in either development or gender issues; it is fascinating to read and constitutes a splendid integration of concepts and findings. -- Sir Michael Rutter, FRS, Professor of Child Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London [The Two Sexes] describes the confrontation between one of social science's premier scholars and the Gordian Knot of how to account for gender differences. It is a masterful account that sweeps through a half-century of studies in the search for underlying mechanisms. This is Maccoby at her best. -- Dr. Gerald R. Patterson, Oregon Social Learning Center [This is a] wonderful book on gender differences...What Maccoby does supremely well...i

Eleanor E. Maccoby is Barbara Kimball Browning Professor of Psychology, Emerita, at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, Stanford University.

Preface Introduction Divergence in Childhood Gender Segregation in Childhood The Two Cultures of Childhood Cross-Sex Encounters The Explanatory Web What Needs to Be Explained The Biological Component The Socialization Component The Cognitive Component Convergence in Adulthood Heterosexual Attraction and Relationships The Two Sexes in the Workplace Men and Women As Parents Overview Notes References Index