The Female Brain

Brizendine feels women can use modern scientific knowledge to plan their futures. Modern life phases have expanded, and childbirth occurs later in life and with scientific advancements, meaning phases overlap—mothers have careers and children at the same time, and they raise children while experiencing menopause. Rather than encouraging women to choose either a career or children, Brizendine suggests that an understanding of one’s neurology can mitigate lifestyle challenges. Brizendine repeats her intention to help female readers—“If we can understand how our lives are shaped by our brain chemistry, then maybe we can better see the road ahead” (208). Criticizing the idea of a unisex brain, Brizendine argues that the perception of male as “normal” and female as “other” creates discrimination. Brizendine hopes her book will help male humans adapt to the female world, rather than the other way around. Brizendine claims that while women want more joy, less stress, and rewarding relationships, these goals are difficult to achieve given the number of female responsibilities.

Brizendine finds the concepts of scientific truth and political correctness opposed to one another; she claims that she chose to focus on the former in her writing. She suggests that the 21st century will see advancements in the understanding of the female experience.