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Abstract

There are obvious differences between males and females observed in society; aside from physical features, gender differences are present from infancy through adulthood in virtually all areas from childhood play to occupational choices. It is heavily debated as to whether these gender differences are a result of socialization or a result of differences between the male and female brain. This paper will explore both sides of the controversy, outlining the evidence offered by Cordelia Fine and Simon Baron-Cohen in their books ”Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference” and ”The Essential Difference: Male and Female Brains and the Truth About Autism.” Fine defends the argument that the brain is malleable and influenced by parents, peers, and the environment, while BaronCohen defends the argument that there are essential differences between how the male and female brains are organized. Historical evidence, observations, and testing are cited by each author to support their stance on the controversy. As greater technological advancements are made in neuroscience, scientists can continue to study the brain with greater precision and accuracy, and gain further insight to support or refute a side in this debate.

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