Gender and Sexuality for Beginners

Gender and Sexuality For Beginners considers the uses and limitations of biology in defining gender. Questioning gender and sex as both categories and forms of compulsory identification, it critically examines the issues in the historical and contemporary construction, meaning and perpetuation of gender roles. Garbacik interweaves neurobiology, psychology, feminist, queer and trans theory, as well as historical gay and lesbian activism. These fresh perspectives ultimately point to two major topics. The clear inadequacy of gender categories, as well as the ways the sex-gender system oppresses us all.

Gender and Sexuality For Beginners examines the evolution of gender roles and definitions of sexual orientation in American society. Additionally, it illuminates how neither is as objective or “natural” as we are often led to believe.

Pages: 215

Review from Dr. Belisa Vranich, Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Media Personality

“A challenging and engaging page turner, this book could change the way Americans perceive gender, orientation, and the practices that privilege heteronormativity. With precision and lucidity, Garbacik manages an impressive feat: she presents readers with an accessible history of the evolvement of our society’s basic tenets surrounding gender and sexuality. What’s more, she turns many widely held assumptions directly on their head, leaving us the disquieting sense that, when it comes to understanding the differences between men and women, we may have been misled.”