Biological stories of masculinity
Here are just a few interesting details showing some biological differences in the very early development of males. This is not to justify any actions or beliefs, rather to begin a deeper exploration of what we are.
Fecundation – conception:
Sources:
J C Pearce “The Magical Child”
A. N. Schore, “Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development”
Our nearest cousins – the great apes
The Chimpanzees, Gorilla, Orang Utan and Bonobo are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, with whom we share 98% of our DNA. Anthropological investigations show that all the males of these species show similar violent tendencies to us male humans. These include gratuitous gang warfare, rape, infanticide, ... these without any obvious possible social or ecological 'justification' such as limited resources or similar.
There are popular misconceptions about the Bonobos, citing them as a different and peaceful species. Wrangham and others who have lived closely with them show that Bonobo males are equally violent but there are other factors affecting their social behaviour. Firstly the females are of almost equal size and strength so that they are better equipped to defend themselves. Then the male aggressive behaviour is a solitary attempt to gain personal benefit whilst the females work together to support each other. So nothing new here.
These points mentioned here are no kind of justification or excuse for human male violence… but as an exploration of 'baselines' to be considered and from where we might research and design new education and social policy.
Source:
Richard Wrangham (1996) Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence
¿So where did the social conditioning towards the patriarchal male dominance we speak about, begin?
Fecundation – conception:
- Sperm can be of X or Y chromosome. Eggs are X chromosome.
- X - X makes a female embryo. X – Y makes a male embryo ... maybe ...
- The Y chromosome sperm (which creates a male embryo) is faster and stronger to swim up the uterus, arrives faster to the egg, but is less stable and short lived. If the egg is not ready it dies.
- X chromosome sperm swims slower but is more stable and lives longer, can wait for the egg to be ready.
- Many more X – Y embryos are conceived than X – X. We will see what happens to them.
- The success of an X - Y embryo depends on balanced testosterone production. If testosterone production is not stable in the first 6 – 8 weeks ... the embryo reverts to X – X. That is it becomes female, or it aborts or it remains in a state with some mixed male and female characteristics.
- About 50% of X-Y embryos abort naturally at this stage (6 – 8 weeks) mostly without the mother being aware of anything. More than 90% of X-X embryos continue a normal development.
- ¿Is the baseline of life feminine? Maleness seems already to be subject to some early inherent risk.
- The next moment when there are a lot of natural abortions is around the 5th month when brain development extends to the organs. Most of these deaths are again of male embryos.
- Around 7 months there are some premature births ... most of these are male. Previously these died ... now mostly they survive.
- Of the births at 9 months gestation, some have problems such as deafness, dumbness, blindness, physical deformities, .... some 80% of these are males.
- Later other psychological problems are detected (autism, dyslexia, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, ... later still schizophrenia and other mental illnesses .... some 80% of these are males.
- Of spontaneous early (cot) deaths some 80 % of these are male
- Male births well outnumber female births but by adult age women outnumber men.
- Of new-born infants that suffer immediate separation from their mothers – the boys show much more anxiety from which they do not recover easily – the girls are more able to cope emotionally and quickly recover.
- There are clearly defined phases of development of the neuronal connections for neuro-motor-psycho-emotional development (in relationship to the social environment). This means that if a function is not properly developed in the moment programmed by our DNA then it will not be developed properly. These functions are developed by loving contact and appropriate stimulation of the senses. Myenalization fixes (neuroticises) behaviours and functions.
- There is a continual interaction between the DNA programme for development and the environmental stimulation, from gestation.
Sources:
J C Pearce “The Magical Child”
A. N. Schore, “Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development”
Our nearest cousins – the great apes
The Chimpanzees, Gorilla, Orang Utan and Bonobo are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, with whom we share 98% of our DNA. Anthropological investigations show that all the males of these species show similar violent tendencies to us male humans. These include gratuitous gang warfare, rape, infanticide, ... these without any obvious possible social or ecological 'justification' such as limited resources or similar.
There are popular misconceptions about the Bonobos, citing them as a different and peaceful species. Wrangham and others who have lived closely with them show that Bonobo males are equally violent but there are other factors affecting their social behaviour. Firstly the females are of almost equal size and strength so that they are better equipped to defend themselves. Then the male aggressive behaviour is a solitary attempt to gain personal benefit whilst the females work together to support each other. So nothing new here.
These points mentioned here are no kind of justification or excuse for human male violence… but as an exploration of 'baselines' to be considered and from where we might research and design new education and social policy.
Source:
Richard Wrangham (1996) Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence
¿So where did the social conditioning towards the patriarchal male dominance we speak about, begin?