You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

The esteemed Dr. Leonard Sax joins us this week to share his expertise on how sex differences impact child-rearing, parenting, and education. We begin with a discussion of biological differences between male and female brains, particularly when it comes to sense perception, which can lead to misunderstandings between the sexes. Dr. Sax highlights the importance of understanding these differences in order to optimize children’s learning and home environments.

The conversation then shifts to the topic of gender atypicality and how parents and educators might embrace the richness and complexity of the human experience, allowing children to explore their interests and preferences without being labeled transgender.

We discuss the challenges faced by boys in today's society, including the growing gender gap in academic achievements, and how teachers can cater to the unique developmental needs of both sexes in co-ed schools.

Dr. Sax provides practical advice for parents and educators on how to navigate sex differences and create a culture of respect and understanding. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and celebrating the diversity of gender expression, while also respecting biological differences.

Leonard Sax MD PhD is a board-certified family physician and PhD psychologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience. Over the past 22 years, he has visited more than 500 schools across the United States and worldwide, speaking to parents about many topics including social media, video games, and gender issues. He also leads workshops for teachers on gender-aware instructional strategies, on building a culture of respect, and on dealing with difficult parents. He has published four books for parents: Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting, which was a New York Times bestseller. Dr. Sax graduated Phi Beta Kappa at age 19 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and went on to earn both a Ph.D. in psychology and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Sax lives with his wife and teenage daughter in Pennsylvania. Visit his website at leonardsax.com.

Dr. Sax’s four books can all be found in my bookshop or via these Amazon affiliate links below. Thank you for your purchases that support the show!

00:00 Start

[00:02:26] Hardwired sex differences in senses.

[00:05:23] Sex differences in hearing.

[00:08:06] Women's Peripheral Vision and Men's Magnocellular System.

[00:11:23] Boys and bullying.

[00:14:34] Color naming gender differences.

[00:18:01] Color naming ability in children.

[00:21:30] Girls value friendship above team affiliation.

[00:24:57] School culture and music influence.

[00:28:52] Growing gender gap in achievement.

[00:32:49] Making school friendly to boys.

[00:37:14] Brain development differences in genders.

[00:41:05] Pervasive and troubling pornography.

[00:43:10] Rise in erectile dysfunction.

[00:48:28] Empowering young women's experiences.

[00:52:19] Disorders of sexual development.

[00:57:37] Intersex conditions and prevalence.

[00:59:41] Intersex being misunderstood.

[01:06:22] Intersex individuals and gender identity.

[01:09:11] XY male fetus and intersex.

[01:13:48] Personality traits and sex differences.

[01:19:48] Trans issues and stereotypes.

[01:22:15] Emotional development in girls.

[01:24:49] Teaching empathy to boys.

[01:28:14] Creating healthy role models.

[01:34:18] Autogynephilia and transgender issues.

[01:39:15] Transgender issues in current society.

[01:40:56] Lawsuit against American Academy of Pediatrics.

[01:43:04] Humans and grandkids.

[01:47:26] Disastrous laws allowing kids.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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