Feminist Neuroethics: Introduction

Abstract

Feminist neuroethics uses gender as a lens to approach neuroethics, drawing on an ever-growing body of feminist theory and scholarship. This feminist section of the Handbook of Neuroethics contains four articles. The first is by Robyn Bluhm on “Feminist Philosophy of Science and Neuroethics” (Chap. 88). Bluhm maintains that feminist philosophy of science can provide theoretical and methodological resources to address questions posed within neuroethics. The second article in this section is by Peggy DesAutels on “Feminist Ethics and Neuroethics” (Chap. 89). She examines if and to what degree there are sex/gender differences in moral judgments, behaviors, and traits and concludes that most differences are attributable not to sex-based brain differences between men and women, but to distinct and persistent types of psychologies found in members of oppressing and oppressed groups. The third article is by Anne Jaap Jacobson entitled “A Curious Coincidence: Critical Race Theory and Cognitive Neuroscience” (Chap. 90). Jacobson examines implicit bias and the degree to which it can be changed. Her focus is on bigoted racial bias, but she is motivated by concerns for gender bias as well. The fourth and final article in this section is by Cordelia Fine and Fiona Fidler on “Sex and Power: Why Sex/Gender Neuroscience Should Motivate Statistical Reform” (Chap. 91). They describe how the current statistical method of null hypothesis significance testing specifically contributes to scientific error in sex/gender neuroscience. They suggest that sex/gender neuroscience may therefore provide a valuable model to motivate, on ethical grounds, statistical reform within the psychological sciences.