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| Author | Simon LeVay |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biology |
| Published | 2011 (Oxford University Press) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | 978-0-19-973767-3 |
Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The science of sexual orientation is a 2011 book about the development of sexual orientation by Simon LeVay.
Outline
LeVay details the findings of more than 650 studies that have been conducted since his 1991 study of the hypothalamus. He argues that sexual orientation is an aspect of gender that emerges from the prenatal sexual differentiation of the brain, being determined by a combination of sex hormones, genes, and the womb environment, including factors such as stress during pregnancy. Rather than stopping at birth, the influence of genes and hormones continues over the life span.
Scholarly reception
Gay, Straight and the Reason Why was reviewed in New Scientist by journalist Deborah Blum, who called it "rational, smart and compassionate" but also observed that it showed that scientific understanding of sexual orientation had advanced less than might be hoped since LeVay's 1991 study. Blum commented, "I was dismayed to discover that many of the most influential studies cited here spring from previous decades...when a chapter on the importance of biology in sexuality contains 32 citations and 23 of them date to the year 2000 or earlier, a book can feel a bit dated." Philosopher Michael Ruse praised LeVay's book in The Globe and Mail, calling it "superb". Ruse wrote that the work was, "clear and comprehensive, looking at the widest range of research, and very balanced."
In 2012, Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why received the Bullough Book Award for the most distinguished book written for the professional sexological community published in a given year.
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
- Journals
- Blum, Deborah (30 October 2010). "Gay: born or made?". New Scientist. 208 (2784): 53. Bibcode:2010NewSc.208Q..53B. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(10)62703-0.
- Online articles
- LeVay, Simon. "Simon LeVay's website". Retrieved 2013-10-17.
- Ruse, Michael. "What Freud didn't know about being gay". Retrieved 2013-10-17.
- Staples, A. Latham. ""Gay Brain" scientist returns to San Diego for Oct. 12-13 book signings". Retrieved 2013-10-13.