Darwin therefore suggested sexual selection stating that any characteristic that benefits reproductive success will become the norm over time as it is consistently selected. Sexual selection involves inter and intra sexual selection. Intra sexual selection is the evolutionary process in which members of one sex (usually males) compete with each other for members of the opposite sex. Those who win are able to pass on their genes, which include the factors that made the winning person successful. This helps to ensure the offspring’s survival whilst passing on successful genes.
Sexual selection classified by Darwin. In humans, intersexual selection applies, involving members of one sex choose who they want to mate with from the opposite sex. Women choose partners and men compete. Sexy sons’ hypothesis: relates to inter sexual selection, showing women choose their partner depending on what features he has. She chooses the most desirable characteristics that her offspring might inherit.
Describe and evaluate sexual selection (8+16 marks) Sexual selection is based upon the idea that men want to pass on their genes to future offspring, and women want to pick a man with the best possible genes for their child, therefore arguing that our preferences and reproductive habits are innate and therefore due to nature. The theory was first proposed y Darwin who said that two processes took place, the first being intrasexual selection; this is where members of one sex compete with each other for access to members of the opposite sex, the winners are able to mate and pass on their genes. This means that the ‘winning trait’ will be passed on to their offspring. The other process is called intersexual selection, where the preference of one sex dictates the area in which the other sex must compete for their attention. This may be economic.
Therefore, the role differences we observe are more of a product of our biological inheritance than acquired through socialisation. As the evolutionary approach is a biological one, it suggests that aspects of human behaviour have been coded by our genes because they were or are adaptive. However, a debate of this approach is the nature vs. nurture approach, nature supporting the evolutionary approach being that we have evolved through survival value and its ability to increase an individual’s opportunities to pass on their genes, an example showing this was Bowlby’s theory of attachment – concerning the role of evolution is the explanation of stress as an adaptive response to environmental pressures. Animals born without such responses die quickly. Nurture, on the other hand, is a view proposed by the social approach suggesting behaviour is affected by experience and environment.
These differences occur due to anisogamy, differences between the nature and amount of gametes (sperm and eggs) produced. In females the egg is large and appears less frequently than males’ sperm, and so they have to be highly selective in mate choice to ensure that her offspring are of the highest quality. Therefore it follows that females must be more selective about whom they mate with as each mating involves a relatively sizeable part of reproduction potential compared to males; so they have a much higher parental investment than males. Natural selection therefore favours female behaviour maximising the chances of successful reproduction through various strategies, such as monogamy and high parental investment. Females seek males displaying genetic fitness, like strength, status and resources.
Discuss the way sexual desire is represented by two Renaissance texts on this module. The Renaissance period appears to follow the traditional ideology of gender roles and sexuality for the female majority. A woman was a “daughter, wife, and then widow”. The woman’s role was to be governed by the male attitude and thus meaning to follow the role of the dependable housewife. Females were ruled usually by men who were ranked and viewed as the intelligent species, based solely on their income and class, never their morality.
Self-actualisation has been replaced by three motives described as “evolutionarily critical” – mate acquisition, mate retention and parenting. The researchers argue that many activities defined as self-actualising (such as creativity) actually reflect a biologically basic need to increase status and thereby attract mates. Douglas Kenrick said: "Among human aspirations that are most biologically fundamental are those that ultimately facilitate reproduction of our genes in our children's children. For that reason, parenting is
Male and females complement each other anatomically, and as Ryan T. Anderson elaborated, the “biological fact that reproduction depends on a man and a woman,” (Anderson, 2013). If desired, traditional marriages support reproduction of families, children, and communities, whereas same sex marriages are not able to produce offspring for future generations. Without traditional marriages, fundamental building blocks of human civilization and community networks and children would be lost forever. Social and political liberal activists are putting forth arguments to change traditional marriage laws. As same sex marriages are certainly capable of providing loving relationships and family unity.
In fact, the social perspective towards women was based on submission and passivity. As time progresses, Victorian scenario of men’s empowerment over women has changed and equity between sexes as a human right has gained significance. However, remaining sexist attitudes within contemporary societies could be taken as a reflection of sexism towards womanhood existent in Victorian Era. First of all, both the psychological phenomenon of the double standards and a high level of sexual repression in our societies catch the attention. Indeed, those concepts of sexual behavior have different views according to the historical context.
Feminists argue that the education system is just a primary preparation for leading into the future work force. They believe there are still gender differences in subject choice in schools. Colley (1998) reviewed this idea and found that despite all the social changes in recent decades, traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity were still widespread. However, Sharpe (1976, 1994) interviewed a sample of girls in the 1970’s and another sample in the 1990’s. She found that their priorities had changed from love and marriage in the 1970s to jobs, aspirations and careers in the 1990’s.