Detailed Observation of Over 120 Primate Species Indicate That in Most Cases No Gender Dominates the Proceedings

A recent study revealed that a specific gender may not be as weak as previously thought in primate dynamics. An investigation conducted by researchers from the University of Montpellier, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and the German Primate Center revealed some startling insights about female dominance in primate communities, as reported by Earth. For the examination, the team focused on 253 populations belonging to 121 primate species. It is the most extensive study conducted by experts. The results indicated that several assumptions based on which gender roles are designated in human society may not be accurate. The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Likelihood of Female Dominance

Most people think that male dominance is the status quo in primates, an assumption that has possibly shaped the present system of gender roles. The study proves the assumption wrong. It reveals that the likelihood of female dominance in primate communities was higher than what past assertions suggested. Further observations showcased that neither male nor female dominance was a given. Instead, they depended on factors like social structures, reproductive strategies, and ecology. In situations where females have more control over reproduction, can reject sexual advances by males, and avoid physical coercion, they typically dominate in those societies. Also, societies with high competition amongst females for resources lead them to dominate the proceedings. Contrary to past claims that females need ecological harshness and environmental unpredictability to dominate, the study asserted that females were more likely to take the reins in stable situations.

Female dominance was also observed in groups where mothers could keep their offspring in a location and not carry them everywhere. Species that had a lower lactation period, along with an environment where males were not able to kill the children, also encouraged female superiority. In situations where species live in isolated conditions rather than herds, support female superiority. Another noteworthy pattern was that in species where female dominance was noticed, there was a lot of variance. In bonobos, females won over males from 48 percent to 79 percent of the time in different groups. It implies that local climate also played a part in deciding the dominance, with certain conditions supporting females. 

Complicated Dynamics

To determine which gender is dominant in a species, researchers focused on specific interactions, such as aggression, evidence of dominant or submissive behavior, and threats, according to Science Alert. They tried to figure out the hierarchy in place and whether the positioning was dependent on gender. They concentrated on interactions between opposite genders rather than the same for the exercise. Elise Huchard, a primatologist at the University of Montpellier in France, claimed that in most species, the dynamic wasn't predominantly skewed towards one gender. Instead, there was flexibility and balance between the two genders.

The instance of males dominating over females was observed in 17 percent of the populations, including species like baboons and chimpanzees. Female domination was observed in 13 percent of the sample, which included lemurs and bonobos. It implies that in 70 percent of the primates, there was no clear dominance of either gender. Males dominated the proceedings, where they had a clear physical advantage over females. This dynamic was more pronounced in ground-bound species, where females were unable to hide from males.

Relation to Humans

Researchers believe that humans fall into a category where there are neutral dynamics. No specific gender dominates the other, and a lot is dependent on local conditions. "These results corroborate quite well with what we know about male-female relationships among hunter-gatherers, which were more egalitarian than in the agricultural societies that emerged later," Huchard said. These results propose a profound shift in the way male-female gender roles have been determined in human society. The results indicate that female dominance is not accidental, but rather a natural phenomenon, similar to male dominance. Therefore, the current assumption of the status quo possibly needs revisiting.