The Roles of Men and Women in a Society There is a complexity in understanding the role of men and women in a society. Scientists and biologists are challenging themselves to explain the mental and behavioral processes of genders. Natalie Angier born and raised in New York writes “Men, Women, Sex and Darwin” an essay about evolutionary psychology and the misleading perceptions it has women. She focuses on five topics that the theory argues proving them wrong, and using them for support. The first area the theory introduces “men are more promiscuous and less sexually reserved than women are” (30).
Evolutionary psychology proposes that men are always after sex. They explicitly say men hold a special force attracting them to sex which women cannot fully comprehend. Angier explains that men can be open about their sexual life, unlike women who are impacted by culture and society. Women are judged as “either chaste or trampy” (35) a woman is seen as pure or a slut. Since the beginning of time women are looked down upon when regarding their sex life. Harassment of women based on their sex life is due to religious and/or cultural influence, which has a stronghold over American society.
Relating back to Christianity, if you are a virgin it means you are pure and clean, on the other hand if you are not then you are dirty and considered a lower class. I agree that women have the same sex drive that men do, but due to society and culture, women feel unconfident and unwilling to show it. I believe that it is not because “women supposedly have a lower sex drive than men do” (36) but that they have more precaution of become pregnant. Men have this need to have multiple sex partners for their own confidence. I agree with Angier that men have this competition with other males to see who can get more women.
They do this for their need to be dominating other males. The ability of a men attaining more females boosts their self-motivation and satisfaction. Evo-psychos’ second interest is that “men are naturally attracted to youth and beauty” (30). The theory says that men are attracted to these women because of child bearing. It also says that a healthier younger woman will be able to carry his children. I disagree with this reason, I think that media influences what we expect from people. Unconsciously in our society we are brainwashed by magazines, TV and advertisements, to tells us how we should be and who we are attracted to.
If a young child plays with Barbie’s, it automatically gives her the stereotype of how she is theoretical to look like when she is older. Women constantly have an urge in our society to be thin, models and actors tell us how we are supposed to be. If we look at another society for example Africa, I found this article on the web about men attracted to fat women being another type of society. “They conducted a study in South Africa where “fat” women are preferred (like many other places) and they’ve found correlation that relate to fertility, health, and even how hungry a guy is, due to evolutionary instincts. (Shaolin36). In the essay Angier quotes from Gowaty, “What pleases me might not please somebody else” (39) disagreeing with the evolutionary psychology theory. Depending on where a person is from, how culture and society influenced them will determine whom they are attracted to. The third statement that evolutionary psychology has made is “women are inherently more interested in a stable relationship than men are” (30). They perceive that women want someone who will provide for them, and be able to take responsibilities in control. I agree with this concept.
If a woman is looking for someone to settle down with then this proposition makes sense. This fourth statement applies also to the second, “women are naturally attracted to high-status men with resources” (30) demonstrating Darwin’s “survival for the fittest’ in action. For a woman to find a man with the right resources it will lead her to peruse a child with him. If a man has more money and a stable job, then the woman knows she has a provider and her children will be cared after. If a women were to settle with someone of lower rank than her unable to support a family, then that would no satisfy the needs of her life and goals.
The last topic evolutionary psychology brings up is how “humankind’s core preferences and desires were hammered out long, long ago…” (30). Evo-psychology tells us that since ancestral time men have been dominant over women. Generally, women come across upon as being quiet and nurturing, whereas men are shown with strength and dominance. A man has always been the dominating sex, dating back to the Stone Age. During that period, several thousands of years ago, the male has been the one who would go out hunting, and battle. Women are seen as a “care-taker” and making sure that the group was satisfied.
Even today in our society we see how men still dominates our world. If we take a look of all the people who have impact on big decisions, their all male. Researchers are still analyzing why genders behave and act the way they do. Angier has put together her essay clarifying her reasoning’s to the theories that evolutionary psychologist have came up with. Work Cited 1. Angier, Natalie. “Men, Women, Sex, and Darwin. ” 50 Essays. Ed. Denise B. Wydra. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford, 2007. (29-41). Print. 2. Shaolin36. “untitled”. DearCupi. ORG. “n. d”. Web. 5 October 2009.
