Evolutionary explanations of sex differences are often rejected by progressives.
They want to contest, delegitimise & reform socially constructed patriarchy.
But data & contestation are not at odds!
The more we understand what’s going on, the better informed our solutions.
They want to contest, delegitimise & reform socially constructed patriarchy.
But data & contestation are not at odds!
The more we understand what’s going on, the better informed our solutions.
Survival was only possible because women deeply cared for their kids & feared danger.
Women’s heightened insecurity may have encouraged subtle strategies of sexual competition, like smear campaigns.
Men took risks, publicly signalled their power & collectively decimated foes.
Women’s heightened insecurity may have encouraged subtle strategies of sexual competition, like smear campaigns.
Men took risks, publicly signalled their power & collectively decimated foes.
Biology is obviously not deterministic
Genetic inheritance is clearly mediated by environment.
But by learning from evolutionary psychology, we can interrogate a more diverse range of hypotheses about what sustains gender inequalities today.
Genetic inheritance is clearly mediated by environment.
But by learning from evolutionary psychology, we can interrogate a more diverse range of hypotheses about what sustains gender inequalities today.
I confess, I did not start off with these beliefs.
I was initially sceptical of theories like “the queen bee”, about women bullying each other at work theatlantic.com
I thought this was ideologically motivated “victim blaming”, letting patriarchy off the hook.
I was initially sceptical of theories like “the queen bee”, about women bullying each other at work theatlantic.com
I thought this was ideologically motivated “victim blaming”, letting patriarchy off the hook.
If you’re like me then I strongly recommend reading scholars like Joyce Benenson & @TaniaArline!
They persuasively argue that some women do feel anxious & jealous of other women, so perpetuate smear campaigns against their competition.
This is real & denial is like an ostrich..
They persuasively argue that some women do feel anxious & jealous of other women, so perpetuate smear campaigns against their competition.
This is real & denial is like an ostrich..
This is why I’m such an inter-disciplinary academic.
Patriarchy has existed for thousands of years.
There is no single cause but geographically-diverse cultural evolution.
We can only understand it by learning from scholarship on everything from primates to prime-time TV!
Patriarchy has existed for thousands of years.
There is no single cause but geographically-diverse cultural evolution.
We can only understand it by learning from scholarship on everything from primates to prime-time TV!
To be clear, there is zero evidence that men are naturally better leaders or more intelligent. That’s bs.
It’s more that we see bimodal distributions in emotions (eg fear) preferences (risk aversion), violent aggression (vs covert manipulation) and of course physical strength!!
It’s more that we see bimodal distributions in emotions (eg fear) preferences (risk aversion), violent aggression (vs covert manipulation) and of course physical strength!!
“Testosterone” by @hoovlet really rocked my priors.
Previously, I had doubted David Buss’s EvPsych work as “just so” stories: inventive back-reading.
But after reading CH, I became more convinced of biological differences & more open to research from evolutionary psychology.
Previously, I had doubted David Buss’s EvPsych work as “just so” stories: inventive back-reading.
But after reading CH, I became more convinced of biological differences & more open to research from evolutionary psychology.
Once I realised that biological differences exist, then I became more open to evolutionary psychology.
Now, every discipline believes in its own importance, they all reckon their way of understanding our world is superior.
I just value each as part of my toolkit!
Now, every discipline believes in its own importance, they all reckon their way of understanding our world is superior.
I just value each as part of my toolkit!
Now, to what extent does biology explain contemporary gender inequalities?
Hard to answer!
Our genetic inheritance interacts with our environment to shape brain development.
Hard to answer!
Our genetic inheritance interacts with our environment to shape brain development.
Women’s brains change upon parenthood, in ways that promote care-giving.
Men’s brains do too, tho less so.
And this effect seems to be amplified if men can bond with newborns (as enabled by generous paternity leave in Spain vs California)
Tiny sample but interesting hypothesis
Men’s brains do too, tho less so.
And this effect seems to be amplified if men can bond with newborns (as enabled by generous paternity leave in Spain vs California)
Tiny sample but interesting hypothesis
Even if mothers are - on average - more predisposed to bond with their kids, the rise of WFH has enabled many more white collar fathers to experience & enjoy care-giving.
This exogenous shock of COVID, technological innovation & peer approval have revolutionised paternal care.
This exogenous shock of COVID, technological innovation & peer approval have revolutionised paternal care.
STEM is another example
Many have argued there are innate differences in gender preference for STEM.
Confident in their success & eyeing higher pay, men disproportionately flock to computing, engineering and economics.
But…
Many have argued there are innate differences in gender preference for STEM.
Confident in their success & eyeing higher pay, men disproportionately flock to computing, engineering and economics.
But…
This CANNOT explain subsequent career trajectories.
Compared to other sectors, women who graduate in STEM are far more likely to leave.
Instead, small initial differences in preferences have enabled men to establish gatekeeping dominance.
draliceevans.com
Compared to other sectors, women who graduate in STEM are far more likely to leave.
Instead, small initial differences in preferences have enabled men to establish gatekeeping dominance.
draliceevans.com
So in the case of care-giving, our genetic inheritance gets buffed & remoulded by government policies, pandemics & technology.
Whereas for STEM, it’s about how spaces become male dominated & then systematically hostile to women.
We can trace these interactions for each domain.
Whereas for STEM, it’s about how spaces become male dominated & then systematically hostile to women.
We can trace these interactions for each domain.
Even if women are typically more fearful, media campaigns can make this even more severe!
During Reconstruction, Democrats inflamed rape hysteria.
Today, racist stereotypes heighten distrust & surveillance of black men.
Many calls to the police are from frightened white women.
During Reconstruction, Democrats inflamed rape hysteria.
Today, racist stereotypes heighten distrust & surveillance of black men.
Many calls to the police are from frightened white women.
Yet female fear is not inevitable.
The authoritarian police state of UAE actually leads the world for perceived community safety!
Women also gain confidence through independent travel.
With iterative successes, women realise they can manage alone & happily take bigger risks.
The authoritarian police state of UAE actually leads the world for perceived community safety!
Women also gain confidence through independent travel.
With iterative successes, women realise they can manage alone & happily take bigger risks.
Male aggression may have been favoured by evolution but today it’s obviously shaped by upbringing & environmental insecurity
In inner cities where the state provides little protection, guys may be inclined to act tough & avenge every slight so others know not to mess with them.
In inner cities where the state provides little protection, guys may be inclined to act tough & avenge every slight so others know not to mess with them.
“Sex & gender” are sensitive.
Some people may be sympathetic to this thread but cautiously self-censor
That sustains a negative feedback loop.
But look, there hasn’t been backlash to this thread (yet).
You might see that as evidence that we can openly talk about this data 😊
Some people may be sympathetic to this thread but cautiously self-censor
That sustains a negative feedback loop.
But look, there hasn’t been backlash to this thread (yet).
You might see that as evidence that we can openly talk about this data 😊
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