Sex, Values, and Human Nature Philosophy 202 June 5 : Sex, Values, and Human Nature Philosophy 202 June 5 Announcements Reading: Whitehead,The Bow and the Burden Strap Quiz 3 average = 17.7 Quiz 5 - Wednesday


BD Explanation Continued...: BD Explanation Continued... BD explanation needs… Variation Brains (LeVay) Heritability Twin Studies (Bailey) Family Studies (Hamer) Adaptation and Reproductive Success Kin Selection Balanced Polymorphism Maternal Immune Response


How can homosexuality be biologically natural?: How can homosexuality be biologically natural? Natural gender/sexuality traits are those that are produced by natural selection That is, they are traits that increase reproductive success. How could homosexuality be natural in this sense? Maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s just natural in the SC sense. Homosexuality does increase reproductive success Homosexuality is a product of the natural 'error' you find in all biological systems. The results of this debate have serious normative consequences - Why?


Kin Selection: HM does increase reproductive success.: Kin Selection: HM does increase reproductive success. (1) Modern: Homosexuals DO have children! (2) Genes can be passed on even w.o actual heterosexual sex How is this possible?!?


Inclusive Fitness and Kin Selection: Inclusive Fitness and Kin Selection


Kin Selection: The hypothesis: Kin Selection: The hypothesis Suppose that homosexuals spend their resources on their nieces and nephews. Suppose this allows homosexual’s siblings to have more offspring. This counts as reproductive success for the homosexual family member even though they do not reproduce directly. Maybe families organized in this way were at least as reproductively successful as families without homosexual members.


Kin Selection: Conclusion: Kin Selection: Conclusion Homosexuals would have to have gender traits that disposed them to contribute resources to nieces and nephews. Homosexual Males would have to be 'nurturing' and disposed to contribute MPI to offspring who are not theirs. But such males would be LOW in MPI to begin with. There is evidence that homosexual males are more empathetic than heterosexual males. But there is no evidence that they are any more willing to share resources (time and $$) with relatives.


Balanced Polymorphism: “Moderation is Best”: Balanced Polymorphism: 'Moderation is Best'


Gender is “Multi-dimensional”: Gender is 'Multi-dimensional'


Balanced Polymorphism: Balanced Polymorphism Suppose each gender trait were controlled by a different set of genes. For the sake of simplicity assume: a A B B c C d d


Balanced Polymorphism: Balanced Polymorphism Suppose each gender trait were controlled by a different set of genes. For the sake of simplicity assume: a A B B c C d d


Being in the middle is good: Being in the middle is good AA = hypermasculine Aa = moderately masculine aa = effeminate Imagine the most reproductively successful males are only moderately masculine. Eg AA males are too 'heterosexual' and aa males aren’t heterosexual enough. The complexity of the system and the success of 'moderate' masculine males, leaves open the possibility of homosexual males.


Maternal Immune Response: Maternal Immune Response Homosexual males tend to be later-born brothers. Odd of being homosexual increase almost 25% with each older brother a male has. Homosexual males tend to be less physically aggressive than heterosexual males. Homosexual males have female-typical brains


Childhood Gender Nonconformity: Men: Childhood Gender Nonconformity: Men 60 50 40 30 20 10 PERCENT Homosexual Heterosexual Feminine Masculine


Childhood Gender Nonconformity: Women: Childhood Gender Nonconformity: Women 60 50 40 30 20 10 PERCENT Masculine Feminine Homosexual Heterosexual


Recalled Sex-typed Behavior Males: Recalled Sex-typed Behavior Males d is a measure of the difference between the means of the Hm and Ht groups within sex. (Bailey and Zucker 1995) p andlt; 0.05


From Genes to Desire : From Genes to Desire Stage A Biological variables cause development of childhood temperaments. Stage B Child’s temperament predisposes them to enjoy some activities more than others. Stage C Gender-conforming children will feel different from opposite-sex peers. Gender-nonconforming children will feel different from same-sex peers. Stage D These feelings of dissimilarity and unfamiliarity produce heightened autonomic arousal. Stage E Regardless of the specific source or affective tone of the the childhood autonomic arousal, it is transformed in later years into erotic/romantic attraction


SC explanation of Sexuality: SC explanation of Sexuality Subset of gender that includes sexual behaviors, dispositions to sexual behaviors, sexual attitudes, and sexual desires. BD - sexuality is a set of MMs (desires) that promote certain kinds of behaviors ('Orientation') SC - sexuality is a set of desires, attitudes, etc. that are the result of SFP ('Identity')


SC vs BD on Sexual “Orientation”: SC vs BD on Sexual 'Orientation' BD Orientation Behavior Identity SC Orientation Identity Behavior


SC vs BD on Sexual “Orientation”: SC vs BD on Sexual 'Orientation' BD Sexuality is a fixed, Sexuality is a quantifiable trait. (i.e. Kinsey scale) Constancy across cultures SC Sexuality is fluid, Sexuality not a straigthforwardly quantifiable trait. No Constancy across cultures


Social Construction of Sexuality in 21st Cent. Anglo-America: Social Construction of Sexuality in 21st Cent. Anglo-America


Masculinity in 21C Ango-America: Masculinity in 21C Ango-America Rational Aggressive Interested in Casual Sex Sexually Jealous Sexually attracted to WOMEN


Heterosexuality in 21C Anglo-America: Heterosexuality in 21C Anglo-America So… since most boys are masculine most boys discover an attraction to girls after years of SFP And… since most girls are feminine most girls discover an attraction to boys after years of SFP


Sexuality in 21C Anglo-America: Sexuality in 21C Anglo-America Male with masculine traits = straight or heterosexual man Female with feminine traits = straight or heterosexual woman Male with feminine traits = gay or homosexual man Female with feminine traits = lesbian or homosexual woman Our culture conceives of homosexuals as 'Cross-Gendered'


“The Bow and the Burden Strap”: Harriet Whitehead: 'The Bow and the Burden Strap': Harriet Whitehead


Social Construction of Sexuality in 21st Cent. Anglo-America: Social Construction of Sexuality in 21st Cent. Anglo-America


“The Bow and the Burden Strap”: Harriet Whitehead: 'The Bow and the Burden Strap': Harriet Whitehead


21C Anglo-America: 21C Anglo-America In 21C Anglo- American Culture - Sexual identity will follow from anatomy. In 21C Anglo- American Culture - Social Role will follow from Sexuality (Gender)


Historical Background:: Historical Background:


Caution: Language: Caution: Language We’Wah (Zuni, 1886) Our Language: Male+Woman/mixed = 'Berdache' Cross-Gender Males Native languages La’mana (Zuni) Male Two-spirits


SC Conclusions: SC Conclusions 'Homosexual' Identity and 'Two-Spirit Identity are very different IDENTITIES They may look the same to our CSL Homosexual Identity is based on sexual desire [SDO] Two-Spirit Identity is based on social role. [ODS]


ODS vs SDO: ODS vs SDO In Zuni Culture - Identity follows from occupation and social role. What sort of person you are follows from the work you do in your culture. I’m a Husband, Farmer, Warrior, etc. In 21st C. Anglo-American Culture - Identity follows from sexuality What sort of person you are follows from what sort of sexual desires you have. I’m straight, gay, bisexual, etc.


ODS vs SDO : ODS vs SDO Zuni Sexuality is a byproduct of social role. Sexual Desires are a product of SPF Anglo-American Social Role is a by-product of Sexuality. Sexual Desires are a product of SPF


Why are there homosexual/two-spirit people?: Why are there homosexual/two-spirit people? While 'Homosexual' Identity and 'Two-Spirit Identity are very different identities…. ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL--homosexual and 'two-spirit' identities serve the same FUNCTION within the different cultures 'Policing' the S/G schema Maintaining Patriarchy


Function of Cross-Gender Identities: Function of Cross-Gender Identities 'Policing' S/G Schema Cross-Gender Identities provide a way to understand people who violate gender expectations. Institutionalized vs Non-Institutionalized


Function of Cross-Gender Identities: Function of Cross-Gender Identities Maintenance of Patriarchy Patriarchy requires that men be 'naturally'/inevitably masculine Cross-Gender people demonstrate that this is false This 'violation' of gender must be reconciled Cross-Gender males are NOT men. Men continue to be Masculine Patriarchy is preserved. Homeostasis Mechanism