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  • Material Girls

  • Why Reality Matters for Feminism
  • Written by: Kathleen Stock
  • Narrated by: Kathleen Stock
  • Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)

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Material Girls cover art

Material Girls

Written by: Kathleen Stock
Narrated by: Kathleen Stock
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Publisher's Summary

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

What the critics say

"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)

What listeners say about Material Girls

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a thorough, accurate, and considerate book

Contrary to one of the reviewers here, the book presents the many difficult facets of this rapidly changing phenomenon in all of its chapters. It will be uncomfortable for those who have unnecessarily taken up sides and refuse to be open to questions. It presents thorough understanding, empathetic but challenging research, and sincere inquiry. Highly recommend this book and author.

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  • kay
  • 2024-02-01

thoughtful, provocative & good faith

A thoughtful, provocative and good faith deep dive into the on going gender debate.
It provides an abundance of factual information without being needlessly complex and assumes the listener can wrestle with the ideas. While Kathleen Stock certainly has a point of view it doesn't become preachy and the arguments aren't broken down in a manner where she wants you to just blindly accept them but to think critically and come to your own conclusions.


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