Why Do We Do That?
3. Why do we have grandmas?
Feb 14, 2025
Emily Emmott, an anthropologist at University College London, navigates the intriguing world of grandmothers and their surprising evolutionary significance. She discusses how grandmothers aid in child-rearing and enhance survival rates, emphasizing their unique role in family dynamics. The conversation touches on menopause's rarity in the animal kingdom and how it aligns with the nurturing role of grandmothers. Personal anecdotes reveal the deep emotional bonds and support they provide, proving that grandmothers are not just family fixtures, but vital pillars of society.
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Quick takeaways
- Grandmothers significantly enhance child survivorship due to their caregiving role, especially in high mortality contexts where support is crucial.
- The grandmother hypothesis suggests menopause evolved to enable women to focus on family and community child-rearing, increasing species survival.
Deep dives
The Unique Role of Grandmothers in Child Rearing
Grandmothers play a vital role in child-rearing due to their experience and resources. Unlike grandfathers, women undergo menopause, which allows them more time to assist with raising grandchildren after their own reproductive years. This shift in focus enables them to be actively involved without the demands of pregnancy, making them valuable caregivers. Evidence shows that having a grandmother present significantly increases a child's chances of survival, particularly in high mortality contexts where other caregivers may not provide the same level of support.
