The Evolutionary Roots of Gendered Behavior

In the podcast episode, Angela Saini discusses her book 'The Patriarchs,' which challenges assumptions about the patriarchy. She refers to a study on bonobo apes to demonstrate that not all primate species exhibit male dominance. Despite being slightly bigger, male bonobos do not hold authority, while older females do. Saini emphasizes that biological differences in size or physical strength do not necessarily determine power dynamics. She argues that even in human societies, leaders are often older individuals who build powerful networks and alliances.