Exteme male brain theory 'unhelpful'

Excerpt: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661302019046

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/05/autism-extreme-male-brain-simon-baron-cohen

Even though the extreme brain theory is widely considered to be history, I’m glad Baron-Cohen has expressed his regrets over the terminology. It sounds like he still backs up the science of his theory which categorises the autistic brain with the male brain, by association of behaviours, which don’t correspond to genders.

I think he could have elaborated on what he originally meant because he doesn’t reject his science, other than saying the terms he used were misunderstood.

I think someone who thinks only men systemise has never run a home and family, you need to be highly organised to do it properly. I wonder if this is another bit of the patriarchy coming out, men systemise, whereas women mearly organise. I've always had the impression that Baron Cohen dosen't really like women that much

I don’t know enough about Baron-Cohen to comment on his views about women but having read more about his science, I don’t see any other valid reason why he would disregard the actuality of women’s lives. 

I fully agree with you about the systemisation required for running a home. I get the impression that you are a lot better at it than me and that you are fully ‘domesticated’. I can’t manage to get my home properly systemised. I get by with some of the necessities yet it’s easy to systemise my research and other interests.

Growing up, I wasn’t into dolls, fashion and other so called suitable pastimes for girls. I wanted to be a boy simply because they did the things I wanted to do. Now, I’m happy as a woman because society has moved on (still a long way to go) since then.

I might appear more domesticated than you, but there are things I really struggle with, cleaning for example, half the times I just don't see the mess, how do you get rid of dust, when even with a damp duster, it just moves away for a bit and then comes back, it feels more like rearranging dust than cleaning. The same with ironing, I jokingly say I do politically correct ironing as it all comes out differently creased, but thats almost to true to be funny, things I iron do come out differently creased, often indelibly creased, I can rewash the garment and the creases I ironed in are still there and won't come out.

I was never into dolls either, except my Sindy Doll, baby dolls and prams ust didn't do it for me, but a toy farm and a riding stable did, I'd spend ages with my biscuit tins of farm animals and horses, taking them in and out of fields. I loved my dolls house, but it had no dolls in it, dolls wern't allowed to live in it, it was MY house!

I might appear more domesticated than you, but there are things I really struggle with, cleaning for example, half the times I just don't see the mess, how do you get rid of dust, when even with a damp duster, it just moves away for a bit and then comes back, it feels more like rearranging dust than cleaning. The same with ironing, I jokingly say I do politically correct ironing as it all comes out differently creased, but thats almost to true to be funny, things I iron do come out differently creased, often indelibly creased, I can rewash the garment and the creases I ironed in are still there and won't come out.

I was never into dolls either, except my Sindy Doll, baby dolls and prams ust didn't do it for me, but a toy farm and a riding stable did, I'd spend ages with my biscuit tins of farm animals and horses, taking them in and out of fields. I loved my dolls house, but it had no dolls in it, dolls wern't allowed to live in it, it was MY house!