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Modern Wisdom
#571 - Joyce Benenson - How Do Women Compete For Partners?
Jan 2, 2023
Joyce Benenson, a Harvard lecturer specializing in Human Evolutionary Biology, dives into the intriguing world of female competition for partners. She reveals how women's rivalry is often subtle and strategic, involving exclusion and gossip rather than overt aggression. The conversation explores how social media fosters feelings of inadequacy and discusses the complexities of women navigating relationships and status. Benenson also highlights the emotional responses women have to peer success, offering a nuanced view of gender dynamics in modern society.
01:11:01
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Quick takeaways
- Females engage in safe, subtle, and solitary forms of competition, prioritizing safety and subtlety in conflicts due to the need to prioritize their own survival and the care of their offspring.
- Women have a strong desire for egalitarianism and equality, often driven by a need to maintain social cohesion within female communities, leading to subtle competition and the suppression of others' success in order to maintain a level playing field.
Deep dives
Female competition takes subtle and solitary forms
Females, more than males, engage in safe, subtle, and solitary forms of competition. Females prioritize safety and subtlety in conflicts due to the need to prioritize their own survival and the care of their offspring. This includes employing nonverbal gestures, derogatory voice intonation changes, gossip, and social exclusion to compete for status while minimizing direct and dangerous confrontations. These tactics are honed from an early age and enforced through peer socialization. The solitary competition is focused on personal achievements and success, such as acquiring better dresses for special events or excelling academically. These subtle and solitary forms of competition in females are shaped by evolutionary and social factors to navigate the need for personal safety and the care of offspring.
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