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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Galileo’s Middle Finger summary
Alice Dreger
Heretics, Activists, and One Scholar’s Search for Justice
16 mins
Brief summary
'Galileo’s Middle Finger' by Alice Dreger is a provocative book that examines the intersection of science and politics, through the controversy of sex research. The author challenges the notion that science is objective and shows how it can be influenced by society's moral values.
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Galileo’s Middle Finger
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Transgenderism describes a distinctly different identity than intersex.
When discussing sexuality, many people get confused by all the complex terminology. You might hear the terms “transgender” and “intersex” and wonder what, exactly, the difference is.
First of all, the term intersex is directly related to biology and anatomy.
It describes someone whose anatomy corresponds neither to standard biological definitions of male or female. An example would be someone who is born with a set of ovaries and a pair of testes.
Through the ages, the lives of people straddling the gender divide have often been difficult. Society has tended to stigmatize intersex people, inducing in them feelings of guilt, shame, grief and trauma.
Over the years, the intersex community has been subjected to countless sex “normalization” procedures designed to make individuals adopt whichever sex the doctor assigns them. The procedures are often horrific. People deemed to be more male than female might have their clitoris removed, for instance, and those deemed to be more female might be injected with hormones.
Brian Sullivan is a friend of the author who was nineteen months old when doctors discovered that he had both a uterus and ovotestes, sex glands that contain both ovarian and testicular tissue.
The doctors, reasoning that Brian might become a fertile woman, decided to remove his phallus, and so Brian became Bonnie. In her teens, she became a sexually active lesbian and realized that she was missing a clitoris and was unable to achieve orgasm.
There are plenty of other case histories, as well as plenty of evidence, that shows how normalization efforts are dangerously harmful and can lead to severe dissatisfaction in life.
The other term, “transgenderism,” is related to a person’s gender identity – the way they identify sexually, regardless of biological definitions of sex. This usually means rejecting the gender assigned to them at birth.
In a way, the difficulties faced by people who are transgendered are the opposite of those faced by people who are intersex. Many want to undergo sex-change surgery and take hormones, but access to these resources is often very hard to secure.
Good examples of transgenderism can be seen in Bruce Jenner’s public transition into Caitlyn Jenner, or the television show Transparent.
The medical establishment remains heteronormative. It continues to control what gender a person does or doesn’t get to be. And this presents challenges for both transgendered people as well as intersex people.
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What is Galileo’s Middle Finger about?
Galileo’s Middle Finger (2015) tackles head on the controversial issue of transgender research, intersex issues, and the conflicts that have arisen between academics, scientists and activists. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at just how dangerous an idea can be when it challenges a familiar narrative or an established ideology and reminds us that, in the face of harmful threats and accusations, it’s important to be open, honest and persevering—and that science and social justice need each other in order to work.
Galileo’s Middle Finger Review
Galileo’s Middle Finger (2015) is a thought-provoking exploration of academic freedom and the controversial intersection of science, politics, and human rights. Here's why this book is definitely worthy of your attention:
- It presents eye-opening stories that challenge conventional wisdom and shed light on the complexities of scientific research and its societal impact.
- With meticulous research and detailed analysis, the book exposes the biases and power dynamics that influence scientific controversies, forcing readers to question their assumptions.
- Through a compelling narrative and Dr. Alice Dreger's firsthand experiences, the book offers insights into the importance of intellectual integrity and the consequences of silencing dissenting voices.
Best quote from Galileo’s Middle Finger
In 1969, one clinician claimed a single instance of cross-dressing induced arousal should disqualify a person for sex-reassignment surgery.
—Alice Dreger
Who should read Galileo’s Middle Finger?
- Activists fighting for controversial causes
- Scholars studying ground-breaking subjects
- People who want to transcend identity politics
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Galileo’s Middle Finger FAQs
What is the main message of Galileo’s Middle Finger?
The main message of Galileo’s Middle Finger is that science should prioritize truth over personal agendas.
How long does it take to read Galileo’s Middle Finger?
Reading Galileo’s Middle Finger takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Galileo’s Middle Finger a good book? Is it worth reading?
Galileo’s Middle Finger is a compelling read that sheds light on the complex relationship between science and politics. It is definitely worth a read.
Who is the author of Galileo’s Middle Finger?
The author of Galileo’s Middle Finger is Alice Dreger.
What to read after Galileo’s Middle Finger?
If you're wondering what to read next after Galileo’s Middle Finger, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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