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Material Girls

Why Reality Matters for Feminism

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Material Girls

By: Kathleen Stock
Narrated by: Kathleen Stock
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About this listen

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 organisation 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.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Kathleen Stock (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK Gender Studies Social Sciences Discrimination Mental Health Health

Critic Reviews

"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)
All stars
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I was pleased to find a book that engaged with the topic trans identity from a philosophical perspective. I was blown away by the depth of analysis and exploration of the topic. An expert piece presented brilliantly. I’ll be listening to this again and again.

One of the most needed books on this topic

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Clear, concise, rational, and reasonable. Everything I could have hoped for. Thank you Dr Stock

Excellent

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Lovely listen.
The author is very logical and methodically presents the case, definitions and arguments/evidence.
The narration is clear and easy on the ear.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who's been confused about the terms transsexual and or a woman.

Logical and methodical

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This book takes such a divisive topic and speaks so logically whilst remaining empathetic. A must read for all parents and women!

A very important book

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Great to see and hear some credible common sense backed by data. Well worth listening to.

Brilliant

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Stock impresses with her structured analysis and solid evidence base. I thank her for her scholarship and honour her bravery in the face of terrible vilification by individuals and powerful organisations. I will recommend this to numerous people I know who have been at least in part seduced by the hegemonic imposition of gender identity on cultural, social and legal settings.

accessible and candid take on gender identity

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Great analysis of this pernicious ideology, however Kath would have been better served not to slide into unsubstantiated slurs of male stereotypes.
Until then I thought she was far too smart to let those little personal peccadilloes creep in !

Slippage

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This book is a much needed and cogent analysis of a political movement that aims to bring about radical changes in society as we know it. Kathleen presents her arguments in a clear, concise and accessible way for the reader. I've read many books on this topic in the past month and this one is the most concise and well argued. I particularly love how she frames the trans activists arguments in an intellectually honest way and proceeds to pick them apart methodically. Frequently she even concedes some of their points for the sake of argument and still presents convincing arguments why their views and policy proposals are misguided, profoundly unfair and dangerous for trans people and society as a whole. All this done in a reasonable, respectful and compassionate manner. The biggest take away from this book is that it exposes that those who accuse her of "transphobia" and refuse to debate the societal implications of their proposed policies simply have no intellectual legs to stand on. Accusations of transphobia and other ad hominems are simply a way to deflect scrutiny from their intellectually bankrupt ideas. This book is a must read!

Excellent book! A must read

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I’m an electrical apprentice, and no academic. But I’ve been looking for moderate, sober speakers on this complicated topic. Material Girls make clear arguments with balanced presentation of all sides. I highly recommend.

Clear, detailed and humorous

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Kathleen Stock has written this elegantly reasoned, philosophically robust work to be accessible to readers from all backgrounds. At a time when polarised rhetoric characterises much of the 'gender debate', it's so refreshing to hear from an academic who is encouraging open discourse on these matters. The book highlights the way self identification demands a degree of capitulation from women - previously associated with patriarchal institutions.

Essential Reading for Women

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.