The female turn : how evolutionary science shifted perceptions about females
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The female turn : how evolutionary science shifted perceptions about females
Palgrave Macmillan, c2022
Available at 1 libraries
Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
This book traces the history of how evolutionary biology transformed its understanding of females from being coy, reserved and sexually passive, to having active sexual strategies and often mating with multiple males. Why did it take so long to discover female active sexual strategies? What prevented some researchers from engaging in sexually active females, and what prompted others to develop this new knowledge?
The Female Turn provides a global overview of shifting perceptions about females in sexual selection research on a wide range of animals, from invertebrates to primates. Evolutionary biologist and feminist science scholar Malin Ah-King explores this history from a unique interdisciplinary vantage point. Based on extensive knowledge of the scientific literature on sexual selection and in-depth interviews with leading researchers, pioneers and feminist scientists in the field, her analysis engages with key theoretical approaches in gender studies of science. Analyzing the researchers' scientific interests, theoretical frameworks, specific study animals, technological innovations, methodologies and sometimes feminist insights, reveals how these have shaped conclusions drawn about sex. Thereby, The Female Turn shows how certain researchers gained knowledge about active females whereas others missed, ignored or delayed it - that is, how ignorance was produced.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. An early female turn in primate research.- Chapter 3. Turning appreciation of female choice.- Chapter 4. A female turn in bird research.- Chapter 5. Shifting perceptions about female insects, snakes, frogs, lizards, fishes and spiders.- Chapter 6. Sexual selection after mating: turning perceptions of female agency.- Chapter 7. Conclusions: An Epistemology of Ignorance in Sexual Selection
by "Nielsen BookData"