Alphas males, really? Science disputes the concept of male domination (in primates)

Masculinists who take on a role of alpha will have to. Consequently, think about changing their argument that the male is biologically built to dominate. For example, A new study conducted with 121 species of primates shows that in the majority of cases. Therefore, the balance of power is shared between the sexes and sometimes even inverted.

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“The concept of what is naturel does not exist. Consequently, There is no genetic component that determines domination within a group. “said the primatologist and professor at the Anthropology Department of the University of Montreal, Iulia Bădescu.

In evolutionary biology, it has long been admitted that males dominated the females on the social level in most mammals.

And this theory pleases supporters of alphas males, really? science disputes masculinism who do not hesitate to proclaim themselves “alphas males”.

Those who claim to be inspired by the animal world to advocate physical. material and sexual authority towards women, reject gender equality and the 50-50 in favor of a so-called “traditional” lifestyle where man commands, protects and provides.

“It’s biological”, clamping the followers of this anti -feminist movement.

And yet. a major study published on July 7 in the review Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) testifies to the contrary.

A team of scientists observed more than 250 populations from 121 species of primates to understand the frequency. the conditions under which the male or the female won a “confrontation”.

In almost 70% of cases, both sexes occasionally stand out from conflicts.

“We realize that male domination is not the norm and that the power relationship is above all egalitarian. Nature contains a lot of variation, flexibility and alphas males, really? science disputes diversity, ”underlines M^me Bădescu.

Knowledge bias – Alphas males, really? science disputes

“This idea is the result of partial observations and bias in our knowledge. In species that have been studied very well, it is mainly the males that dominate, ”summarizes the primatologist.

According to research published in PNAS. strictly male domination – males gain 90% of conflicts – is however observed only in 17% of the populations studied.

It is more frequent in primates who live in groups, like large apes, and is often based on physical superiority.

It is not surprising, therefore, that these species are the favorites of masculinists.

“A practice to justify male superiority consists in getting examples in animals that seem to correspond to the thesis that we want to defend. such as chimpanzees,” explains the professor of political science and researcher at the Institute of Research alphas males, really? science disputes and Fetminist Studies of UQAM, Francis Dupuis-Déré.

“Sexism and anti-women never speak of bonobos where females choose their sexual partners,” he adds.

And even in “physical superiority”, there are nuances.

“It is not the most macho chimpanzee who becomes the alpha,” says Professor Bădescu.

“It is not the greatest. the most muscular or the most dominant who are most successful and who maintain their longest role: it is strategic males in their social relationships, who prefer to indulge in social grooming than to the fight,” she said.

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The females also dominate

But, it’s not just the males who win conflicts. Confrontations between the sexes in primates. which are quite frequent depending on the study, can also play in favor of females.

Strictly female domination concerns 13% of the populations studied by researchers, mainly in societies where they alphas males, really? science disputes have substantial control over reproduction.

“In the majority of lemurs. ovulation occurs one or two days a year and all the group’s females will ovulate at the same time. They thus have great power, ”illustrates the researcher Iulia Bădescu.

“The males have no choice to submit since they want at all costs to mate,” she says.

Male domination would therefore not be so “biological” as that. as to claim the supporters of masculinism, who try to justify their ideology by apparently scientific theses, recalls Francis Dupuis-Déré.

“If we really want to be interested in the animal world. we must do it seriously and we then discover a great diversity of animal realities, sometimes even in the same species,” he says.

“Unfortunately, masculinists are not interested in science or anthropological and historical truth.”