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‘Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader’: 2023 anti-trans book

Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader is a 2023 book edited by Alice Sullivan and Selina Todd. It features work from leading anti-transgender activists.

Chapters and authors

  1. Introduction, by Alice Sullivan and Selina Todd
  2. Two Sexes, by Emma Hilton and Colin Wright
  3. Sex and the Brain: I Still Haven’t Found What I Wasn’t Looking For, by Sophie Scott
  4. Is Womanhood a Social Fact? by Kathleen Stock
  5. The History of Sex: Sex Denial and Gender Identity Ideology, by Jane Clare Jones
  6. Sex and Gender in Second-Wave Feminism, by Selina Todd
  7. Why Do We Need Data on Sex? by Alice Sullivan, Kath Murray and Lisa Mackenzie
  8. Sex and Gender in Law, by Rosemary Auchmuty and Rosa Freedman
  9. Sex, Gender, and Equality in the United States: Confusion, Conflict, and Consequences, by Callie H. Burt
  10. Psychosocial factors and gender dysphoria: emerging theories, by Lisa Littman
  11. The Technology of Puberty Suppression, by Michael Biggs
  12. Schools, Feminism and Gender-Identity Theory, by Shereen Benjamin
  13. The Children Who Wouldn’t Grow Up: Gender in children’s literature over fifty years, by Susan Matthews
  14. Sex, Gender Identity and Sport, by Cathy Devine
  15. Sex, Gender, Identity and Criminology, by Jo Phoenix

Blurbs

The book’s promotional materials include several blurbs, including many anti-trans activists:

Positive reviews

The October 2023 book launch featured editors Alice Sullivan and Selina Todd as well as contributing authors Cathy Devine, Lisa Mackenzie and Shereen Benjamin.

Linda Platt, British sociologist

Mary Davis

References

Sullivan, Alice; Todd, Selina [Eds.] (2023). Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader. Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9781032261195

Platt, Lucinda (May 29, 2024). Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader – review. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2024/05/29/book-review-sex-and-gender-a-contemporary-reader-alice-sullivan-selina-todd/

Davis, Mary (November 3, 2023). A scholarly assessment of queer theory. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/a-scholarly-assessment-of-queer-theory

Benjamin, Shereen (18 October, 2023). Burn the book! In which activists protest against the publication of a book they know little about. The Critic https://thecritic.co.uk/burn-the-book/

Grove, Jack (October 10, 2023). Halt gender critical book launch, Edinburgh told by UCU branch. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/halt-gender-critical-book-launch-edinburgh-told-ucu-branch

Wade, Mike (October 10 2023). Edinburgh academics demand ‘Sex and Gender’ book launch is scrapped: The book is transphobic, members of the University and College Union claim. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/edinburgh-academics-demand-sex-and-gender-book-launch-is-scrapped-rwck6wdc0

Staff reporter (10 October 2023). Academics at Edinburgh University accuse union of attempting to ‘shut down debate’ over sex and gender book. Holyrood https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,academics-at-edinburgh-university-accuse-union-of-attempting-to-shut-down-debate-over-sex-and-gender-book

Gresham, Mila (October 13, 2023). Students and staff protest at launch of ‘virulently transphobic’ book hosted by Edinburgh Uni. The Tab https://thetab.com/2023/10/13/students-and-staff-protest-at-launch-of-virulently-transphobic-book-hosted-by-edinburgh-uni

Wade, Mike (October 11, 2023). Edinburgh University defies protests at sale of ‘transphobic’ gender politics book. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/edinburgh-university-defies-protests-at-sale-of-transphobic-gender-book-knwwx3f7c

Hunter, Ross (October 10, 2023). Edinburgh University faces transphobia row over book launch event. The National Scot https://www.thenational.scot/news/23845905.edinburgh-university-faces-transphobia-row-book-launch-event/

David Leask, Sian Bradley (April 21 2024). Transphobia at Edinburgh University ‘driving out staff.’ The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/transphobia-edinburgh-university-driving-out-staff-rf7h00bkr

Higher Education Research Group (11 Oct 2023 ). ‘Sex and Gender’ Book Launch. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/highereducationresearchgroup/1000301

Resources

Routledge (routledge.com)