Sexing the Body | Anne Fausto-Sterling

Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality

Extended Synopsis

In this revised and updated twentieth-anniversary edition of Sexing the Body, acclaimed author Anne Fausto-Sterling examines the complex construction of sexual identity across biology, society, and history. The book poses profound questions regarding why some individuals prefer heterosexual love while others are drawn to the same sex, and challenges whether sexual identity is biologically determined or merely a product of convention. Fausto-Sterling asserts that even our most fundamental scientific knowledge about sex is deeply shaped by the culture in which it is produced.

Drawing on astonishing real-life cases and centuries of scientific research, Fausto-Sterling demonstrates how scientists have historically politicized the human form. Through lively and impassioned prose, she breaks down three key dualisms—sex/gender, nature/nurture, and real/constructed. She forcefully argues that individuals born as mixtures of male and female exist as natural human variants and should not be forced to compromise their physical realities to fit into flawed, socially constructed definitions of normality.

Reader Targeting

• Students and scholars of sociology, gender studies, and developmental biology.
• Readers interested in the intersection of feminism, historical conventions, and scientific research.
• Anyone looking to critically examine and challenge binary concepts of sex, gender, and biological determinism.

About the Author

Anne Fausto-Sterling is a prominent academic, researcher, and author renowned for her brilliant analyses of how culture shapes scientific knowledge. She is also the highly acclaimed author of Myths of Gender, bringing decades of expertise to discussions of biology and gender politics.

Accolades & Awards

An award-winning classic in its field, this revised twentieth-anniversary edition is updated with groundbreaking modern research, expanded scientific source annotations, and comprehensive indexing, cementing its status as an essential academic text.

Bust-Down Books: Armed With Education