Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and PeopleIn this innovative celebration of diversity and affirmation of individuality in animals and humans, Joan Roughgarden challenges accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation. A distinguished evolutionary biologist, Roughgarden takes on the medical establishment, the Bible, social science--and even Darwin himself. She leads the reader through a fascinating discussion of diversity in gender and sexuality among fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, including primates. Evolution's Rainbow explains how this diversity develops from the action of genes and hormones and how people come to differ from each other in all aspects of body and behavior. Roughgarden reconstructs primary science in light of feminist, gay, and transgender criticism and redefines our understanding of sex, gender, and sexuality. Witty, playful, and daring, this book will revolutionize our understanding of sexuality. Roughgarden argues that principal elements of Darwinian sexual selection theory are false and suggests a new theory that emphasizes social inclusion and control of access to resources and mating opportunity. She disputes a range of scientific and medical concepts, including Wilson's genetic determinism of behavior, evolutionary psychology, the existence of a gay gene, the role of parenting in determining gender identity, and Dawkins's "selfish gene" as the driver of natural selection. She dares social science to respect the agency and rationality of diverse people; shows that many cultures across the world and throughout history accommodate people we label today as lesbian, gay, and transgendered; and calls on the Christian religion to acknowledge the Bible's many passages endorsing diversity in gender and sexuality. Evolution's Rainbow concludes with bold recommendations for improving education in biology, psychology, and medicine; for democratizing genetic engineering and medical practice; and for building a public monument to affirm diversity as one of our nation's defining principles. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
active animals become begin behavior biological birds birth body brain breeding called cause cells chromosome cloning color common cooperation courtship cultures develop disease diversity effect eggs eunuchs evolution evolutionary expression feminine fertility fish function gamete gender gender identity genes genetic genitals gonads hijras homosexuality hormones human individuals large male leading lesbian live lizards look male and female masculine mating narratives natural nest occur offer organisms orientation pair parental penis percent person population prefer present Press produce rainbow raise relationships remaining reported reproductive result role same-sex scientists selection sexual selection social society species sperm suggest territory testes testosterone theory tion trait trans transgendered transsexuals two-spirited types University variation white-tailed deer woman women young