Cordelia Fine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cordelia Fine
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Fine in 2010
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| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Philosopher, psychologist, writer |
| Citizenship | British |
| Education | Oxford University (BA Hons Experimental Psychology), Cambridge University (MPhil Criminology), University College London (PhD Psychology) |
| Alma mater | Oxford University Cambridge University< University College London |
| Period | 2006–present |
| Subject | Philosophy, psychology, neuroscience |
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Cordelia Fine is a well-known Canadian-born British thinker, psychologist, and writer. She is also a science communicator, which means she helps explain science to everyone. Since 2018, she has been a full professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Cordelia Fine has written several popular science books. These books explore how our minds work, how our brains are wired, and common ideas about differences between sexes. She is especially famous for her book Testosterone Rex, which won a big science book prize in 2017.
Contents
Early Life and School
Cordelia Fine was born in 1975 in Toronto, Canada. Her mother is the writer Anne Fine, and her father is the philosopher Kit Fine.
She went to St George's School for Girls in Edinburgh, Scotland. She studied experimental psychology at Oxford University and earned a top degree. Later, she got a master's degree in criminology from Cambridge University. She then completed her PhD in Psychology at University College London.
Her Work and Research
After finishing her PhD, Cordelia Fine worked as a researcher at several universities in Australia. These included Monash University, the Australian National University, and Macquarie University.
From 2012 to 2016, she was a special research fellow at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. She also worked as an associate professor at the Melbourne Business School until 2016.
Since January 2018, Fine has been a full professor at the University of Melbourne. She works in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies.
Books and Ideas
Cordelia Fine has written several important books that explore how our brains and minds work.
A Mind of Its Own
Her first book, A Mind of Its Own, came out in 2006. In this book, she brings together lots of research about how our minds sometimes give us a twisted view of reality. It shows how our brains can trick us without us even knowing it.
Delusions of Gender
Her second book, Delusions of Gender, was published in 2010. In this book, Fine looks at the idea that science has proven that male and female brains are naturally different. She argues that these ideas are often based on old ways of thinking or flawed studies.
Fine also questions the common belief that if a society treats everyone equally, then any differences in what men and women do must be due to biology. She explains that because men and women still live in different situations, it's hard to compare their choices and say for sure that their inner natures are different.
Some people have criticized Fine's ideas, saying she doesn't consider certain things. However, Fine has explained that her book focuses on scientific evidence about how males and females are supposedly "hardwired." She believes that how we develop is a mix of our brain, genes, and environment working together.
Many scientists have praised Delusions of Gender. Ben Barres, a professor at Stanford University, said that Fine's analysis should be read by every science student. Other scientists, like Geert de Vries and Nancy Forger, agree with Fine that false claims about brain differences can be harmful.
Testosterone Rex
Cordelia Fine's third book, Testosterone Rex, was published in 2017. This book challenges common ideas about sex differences and how they are linked to evolution, the brain, and hormones.
In 2017, Testosterone Rex won the Royal Society Science Books Prize. This is a very important award for science books. The book suggests that men and women are not as different as many people think, apart from their physical bodies. It argues that there isn't a single "male brain" or "female brain." Instead, each person has a unique mix of features.
Patriarchy Inc.
In March 2025, she published her latest book, Patriarchy Inc.: What We Get Wrong About Gender Equality and Why Men Still Win at Work.
Other Writings
Cordelia Fine has also written many academic papers and chapters for other books. She is known for creating the term 'neurosexism'. This word describes the idea of using brain science to support old-fashioned ideas about gender differences.
Other Activities
As a science communicator, Cordelia Fine gives many public talks. She speaks to students, businesses, and other groups to share her ideas about science.
She has also written articles for many well-known publications. These include The New York Times, Scientific American, New Scientist, and The Guardian. She also reviews books for newspapers like the Financial Times.
Awards and Recognition
Cordelia Fine has received many awards for her important work:
- 2007: Her first book, A Mind of Its Own, was long-listed for the UK Royal Society Science Prize.
- 2010–2013: For Delusions of Gender, she received several nominations and recognitions:
- It was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for non-fiction in 2011.
- It was shortlisted for the Best Book of Ideas Prize in 2011.
- It was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 2010.
- The Washington Post shortlisted it for the 2010 Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year.
- It was shortlisted for the 2013 Warwick Prize for Writing.
- It was named a book of the year by the Evening Standard and Guardian in 2010.
- 2017: Testosterone Rex won the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize.
- 2018: She received the Edinburgh Medal. This award is given to scientists who have made a big difference in helping humanity understand things better.
See also
In Spanish: Cordelia Fine para niños
