WOMENST 1A03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Gustave Le Bon, Paul Broca, Craniometry

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Women's Studies
• Course: WOMENST 1A03
• Professor: Hasan W

Document Summary

Dominated the human sciences for most of the 19thc. In the past, european anthropometry were trying to measure w/ scientific certitude the inferiority of women. Overpowered anthropometry and was led by paul broca. According to craniometry, women had smaller brains than men, which meant that they"re not as intelligent. Reinforced common prejudice but was justified b/c it was a scientific truth. Broca"s information came from his research where he measured the brains of both dead men and women. Measured 292 males and 140 females, yet he made no attempt to make the numbers equal b/c of his predisposition than women aren"t as intelligent regardless. In the past, the size difference btwn male and female brains was only 99. 5 cubic cm. The increased difference could have come about b/c of differing evolutionary pressures upon dominant men and submissive women. Gustave le bon said that women"s brains were closer in size to gorillas than that of developed male brains.