WHY MALES EXIST: An Inquiry into the Evolution of Sex

by Fred Hapgood ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 27, 1979

Fred Hapgood's provocative examination of why the male gender exists at all shapes up as something of an antidote to the more macho sexual tracts that have been appearing in the wake of sociobiology. (E.g., Wallace, below.) The Atlantic Monthly science columnist goes so far as to say that ""males have been devised by females to aid them in their competition with other females."" His thesis is based on an examination of life from simple bacteria to monogamous mammals. Bacteria are essentially asocial and asexual, resorting to a form of mating with some gene exchange under certain environmental conditions. Bisexuality occurs at a second, more advanced, level of organism complexity, where there is some gain from the greater variety that gene-mixing confers. Full-fledged male and female genders are common at a third stage of evolution when social competition and a sufficiently stable environment provide opportunities for optimal gene exchanges. At this point Hapgood sees male sexuality evolving to ""serve"" what is essentially the female ""manufacturing"" role. Males compete and females select. Only at a fourth stage do male and female roles evolve to the point where lengthy pair bonds and even monogamous matings occur, with the male investing much time and effort in providing and protecting the female and even sharing in parenting. On the surface the thesis has a more benign cast than the ""sex-for-the-selfish-gene's sake"" theories prevalent. But the theories are really akin. They share the common sociobiological belief in the grand logic of nature, holding that much of human behavior is reducible to a ""reproductive imperative,"" or the equivalent--all of which is obvious. But Hapgood observes--solemnly and reductively--that female worker bees feed their sisters three times as much as their brothers since they are three times as closely related to them! (Never mind body size; metabolism; functional differences.) So beware the Jabberwock. . . but for readers who enjoy fascinating accounts of the doings of birds and bees, they are plentiful and well-presented here.

Pub Date: Nov. 27, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1979

Categories: NONFICTION