English 215
Project #2 Readings

 

Informational Articles for Project Two
Read the following article from Ebsco before you begin your work will better help you understand both the debate about differences in the brains of males and females and the science article you'll be reading and using in project #2.
Please note: These links may not work if you are off campus (even if you've signed in as an off campus user)

—Phillips, K. "Why Can't a Man Be More Like a Woman. . .and Vice Versa.” Omni Oct 90 13:1, 42-48
Explores research into physiological areas of the brain that appear to indicate biological gender differences in intellect, skills and behavior. Structural differences in corpus callosum; Research examples; Role of hypothalamus in brain's gender differences; Implications for sexual preferences; Role of hormonal fluctuations. [Search using EBSCOHost]

You might also want to take a look at the following article from the JSTOR index that is often referred to in these discussions.
—DeLacoste-Utamsing, C., and R. Holloway, 1982.Sexual diamorphism in the human corpus callosum Science 216:1431-1432.
Preliminary observations suggest a sex difference in the shape and surface area of the human corpus callosum. The sexual dimorphism is striking in the splenium, the caudal or posterior portion of the corpus callosum. The female splenium is both more bulbous and larger than the male counterpart. Since peristriate, parietal, and superior temporal fibers course through the splenium, this finding could be related to possible gender differences in the degree of lateralization for visuospatial functions. [Search using JSTOR]


Please note:
the above articles are for background information and are NOT to be used for your essay.


Articles To Be Used In Your Response To Assignment Two

 — Davatzikos, Christos and Susan Resnick. "Sex Differences in Anatomic Measures of Interhemispheric Connectivity: Correlations wiht Cognition in Women but not Men." Cerebral Cortex 8 (Oct/Nov 1998): 635-634.
A robust sex difference in the splenium of the corpus callosum, reflecting greater interhemispheric connectivity in women, was observed on magnetic resonance images from 114 individuals. In addition, bulbosity of the corpus callosum correlated with better cognitive performance in women but not in men, indicating that the degree of interhemispheric connectivity has different implications for men and women. These findings were based on a new image analysis technique which allows investigation of local variability in brain morphology.


—Garrett. "Objecting to Objectification: Re-Viewing the Feminine in The Silence of the Lambs." Journal of Popular Culture. (Spring 1994): 27:4. 1-12
Praises the film `The Silence of the Lambs' for its feminist viewpoint. Comparison with novel of the same name; Strong female lead character; Sexual harassment of women; Irony in relationship between Clarice and Doctor Hannibal Lecter;
Gender as a non-factor in competence, worth or humanity.
[Search using EBSCOHost]

Ono, Hiroshi and Madeline Zavodny."Gender and the Internet" Social Science Quarterly March 2003, 84:1. 111-122.
This article examines whether there are differences in men's and women's use of the Internet and whether any such gender gaps have changed in recent years. Methods.We use data from several surveys during the period 1997–2001 to show trends in Internet usage and to estimate regression models of Internet usage that control for individuals' socioeconomic characteristics. Results. Women were significantly less likely than men to use the Internet at all in the mid-1990s, but this gender gap in being online disappeared by 2000. However, once online, women remain less frequent and less intense users of the Internet. Conclusions. There is little reason for concern about sex inequalities in Internet access and usage remain.
[Search using EBSCOHost]