Galileo’s Middle Finger

By Alice Dreger

Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science. Penguin Press, 2015.

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13 mins read

12 Key insights

A brief summary of Galileo’s Middle Finger

A scholar’s investigation into the continuing oppression of researchers who present uncomfortable and divisive evidence that challenges people’s beliefs and identities, drawing from her personal experience researching sexual minorities.

Key insights in Galileo’s Middle Finger

What do you get from this book? A defense of scientists presenting controversial evidence about socially or politically significant topics

Intersex and transgender people have different experiences, but both groups have faced marginalization and misunderstanding

Intersex people have long been mistreated and even traumatized by medical professionals

Dreger joined an activist movement which contributed greatly to changing perceptions and treatment of intersex people

The mainstream explanation of transgenderism relies on the idea of people having either a male or female “true self”

Psychologist Mike Bailey published a book that made controversial claims about transgender identity and sexual behavior

Bailey’s book challenged mainstream narratives, prompting some activists to go to extreme lengths to attack and discredit him

After a painstaking investigation, Dreger concluded that the accusations against Bailey were completely made up

Good science and evidence-based conclusions must be defended, and researchers cannot be restricted by political or personal beliefs

Summary of the key insights

Selected critiques in brief

Final word

Who should read Galileo’s Middle Finger

Researchers studying complex social topics • gay and transgender rights activists • anyone interested in gender and identity politics • feminists

About the author of Galileo’s Middle Finger

Alice Dreger is a historian and former professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dreger is a passionate activist and has bylines in The New York Times, Washington Post, and WIRED. She lectures about gender, identity, the scientific pursuit. Dreger has also authored One of Us and The Talk.

Alice Dreger

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