Soci326-002 – Evolutionary Sociology

Module 9 – Biology of Behavior – Human Diversity IV – Discussion Topics – 25 Oct 2005

Note: Class on 18 Oct was cancelled so today we discuss all the readings in Evolution's Rainbow:

• Roughgarden.  Evolution's Rainbow.
  • Introduction -- Diversity Denied -- Pp. 1-10
  • Chapter 1 --  -- Pp. 13-21
  • Chapter 2 -- -- Pp. 22-29
  • Chapter 3 -- -- Pp. 30-42
  • Chapter 4 -- -- Pp. 43-48
  • Chapter 5 -- -- Pp. 49-74
  • Pp. 104-105 of Chapter 6 -- Pp. 104-105 (bundled with Chapter 7)
  • Chapter 7 -- -- Pp. 106-126
• Roughgarden.  Evolution's Rainbow.
  • Chapter 9 -- -- Pp. 159-181
  • Chapter 11 -- -- Pp. 196-206
  • Chapter 12 -- -- 207-237
  • Chapter 13 -- -- 238-244
  • Chapter 14 -- -- 245-261
  • Chapter 18 -- -- 329-351
  • Chapter 21 -- -- 377-386
  • Chapter 22 -- -- 387-399

Topics for discussion:

1. P. 8 Roughgarden writes the following:  "I've suggested a new theory that I call 'social selection'.  This new theory accomodates variation in gender and sexuality.  It envisages animals as exchanging help in return for access to reproductive opportunity, producing a biological 'labor market' for mutual assistance by employing reproductive opportunity as currency."  Later, about pp. 65-70 she discusses this theory further, bringing in Ides from Sandra Vehrencamp involving concepts of reproductive skew, 'staying incentives', and a 'labor market' for reproductive opportunities: "The basic idea is that an animal helps another in exchange for access to reproductive opportunity. [...] Overall, the theory envisions the animal society as a political economy held together by transactions in the currency of reproductive opportunity."  How does that new theory works?  What are the implications of this theory for understanding social inequality in human societies?
2. About pp. 379-384 R. is very critical of Swedish sociologist Annick Prieur's description of the vestidas of Mexico.  What is the nature of R's critique of this sociologist's approach?
3. What does R's discussion imply concerning the origins / causes of non-standard sexual orientation or gender identification among humans?  What are the moral, philosophical, or political implications (if any) of R's approach, especially in view of current debates about gay marriage, etc.
4. Roughgarden argues that Darwin's theory of sexual selection predicts a universal pattern of "passionate male versus coy female" that is in fact not true in nature; thus, R. argues, it is time to close the book on Darwin's theory of sexual selection and move on.  How fair is R.s critique of Darwin?  Is it necessary to jettison the entire theory of sexual selection? 
5. R. describes a colorful array of non-standard sex-related behaviors across human societies, including mahu of Polynesia, "two-spirits" of some Native American cultures, hijra of India, Jehanne d'Arc (a transgendered man), vestidas of Mexico, guevedoche of Dominican Republic.  How does his discussion illuminate these cultural practices?  Can a purely environmental theory of social behavior provide an alternative view of these customs?

Last modified 25 Oct 2005