Evolution's Rainbow

by Roughgarden, Joan

• ISBN13: 9780520246799
• ISBN10: 0520246799
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-06
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

In 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 endorsingdiversity 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.

Author Biography

Joan Roughgarden is Professor of Biological Sciences at Stanford University.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Diversity Denied	1	(12)
PART ONE ANIMAL RAINBOWS
Sex and Diversity	13	(9)
Sex versus Gender	22	(8)
Sex within Bodies	30	(13)
Sex Roles	43	(6)
Two-Gender Families	49	(26)
Multiple-Gender Families	75	(31)
Female Choice	106	(21)
Same-Sex Sexuality	127	(32)
The Theory of Evolution	159	(26)
PART TWO HUMAN RAINBOWS
An Embryonic Narrative	185	(11)
Sex Determination	196	(11)
Sex Differences	207	(31)
Gender Identity	238	(7)
Sexual Orientation	245	(17)
Psychological Perspectives	262	(18)
Disease versus Diversity	280	(26)
Genetic Engineering versus Diversity	306	(23)
PART THREE CULTURAL RAINBOWS
Two-Spirits, Mahu, and Hijras	329	(23)
Transgender in Historical Europe and the Middle East	352	(15)
Sexual Relations in Antiquity	367	(10)
Tomboi, Vestidas, and Guevedoche	377	(10)
Trans Politics in the United States	387	(14)
Appendix: Policy Recommendations	401	(8)
Notes	409	(52)
Index	461