The Sexual Paradox: Extreme Men, Gifted Women and the Real Gender Gap.

Robin Chamberlain is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University.

The Sexual Paradox is a compelling book that intervenes in current debates about sex and gender, and in the repercussions of these debates for, among other things, education, parenting, and the structure of work. Pinker begins with the paradox of female success in school, and male success (at least in the traditional sense) outside of it. She favours nature rather than nurture in explaining this issue. Essentially, Pinker argues that men tend toward “extremes” more than women, and so there are more male geniuses, billionaires, and CEOs, but also more male school dropouts, criminals, and underachievers. She suggests that traditional models of success—high salaries and powerful positions—are not necessarily as appealing to women as other features of work, such as flexibility and the ability to help others. Pinker thus situates herself with “difference” feminists, who argue that social change should address differences between men and women, rather than deny their existence. This is an argument that may not sit well with many readers, but it is nonetheless a compelling one that promises to invigorate debates about gender and the problem of difference. Another problem is that Pinker seems to rely on case studies as more indicative than they are, often refers to studies that are dubious in their methodology or scope, and leaves out studies that would challenge or complicate her position. Extreme is a fairly ambiguous term, and its vagueness seems to lead Pinker into generalizations, or, at least, to leave the reader with that impression. It might be more convincing if Pinker focused on a single area of male “extremism,” although part of the reason the book is captivating is that it explores various facets of experience. This makes it a book that will have a fairly broad appeal; although it may raise some ire among scholars, it is certain to spark productive debates.