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Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People
In this innovative celebration of diversity and affirmation of individuality in animals and humans, Joan Roughgarden challenges accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation. A distinguished evolutionary biologist, Roughgarden takes on the medical establishment, the Bible, social science--and even Darwin himself. She leads the reader through a fascinating di...more
Paperback, 474 pages
Published
April 1st 2009
by University of California Press
(first published May 17th 2004)
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This is a very ambitious, yet readable, work. Roughgarden takes on the binary in sex, gender and sexuality. She takes to task Darwin's sexual selection theory, evolutionary biologists, social scientists, psychologists and physicians.
She spends a lot of time at the beginning laying out dozens of examples of non-binary social and sexual arrangements in nature. This could get tedious, but I suggest sticking it out as best you can; she makes a convincing argument for reworking the sexual...more
She spends a lot of time at the beginning laying out dozens of examples of non-binary social and sexual arrangements in nature. This could get tedious, but I suggest sticking it out as best you can; she makes a convincing argument for reworking the sexual...more
I LOVED the first two-thirds of the book. The author made a wealth of scientific information not only readable but fascinating. Her arguments for modifying evolutionary theory are convincing. As she points out, theories are affected by cultural assumptions. Looking at biology and animal behavior through a lens of cooperation for mutual benefit, rather than one of domination and trickery, gives rise to many interesting possibilities, some of which seem to be a better fit with reality. I also love...more
I've read this only once & I intend to go back, but I remember feeling super pumped that someone (at stodgy-ass Stanford, no less!) was researching sexual diversity and publishing their work for a common audience. I was taking a lot of forensic anthropology classes at the time & was reading so much shitty stuff about evolution and sexual selection that seemed biased and wrong, so I ended up doing a short paper on this book in response.
It's been a long time, but I distinctly remember ...more
It's been a long time, but I distinctly remember ...more
A much-needed review of sex and gender in humans and other animals by someone clear-minded enough to see beyond the binary. An admirable book in many ways, very provoking in others, and well worth reading on both counts.
Roughgarden sets out to prove that "the notion of a universal male or female template (males ardent and females coy) is clearly false" – something of an exercise in tilting at windmills. Darwin attempted to understand the evolution of sex using limited beha...more
Roughgarden sets out to prove that "the notion of a universal male or female template (males ardent and females coy) is clearly false" – something of an exercise in tilting at windmills. Darwin attempted to understand the evolution of sex using limited beha...more
All in all a very informative book. Compared to what it covers albeit very short of course.
Many of the information regarding the different genders in many species is very interesting.
However, I don't agree with everything and especially her definition of what defines a genetic disease is a bit naive in my eyes and only applicable under the conditions of natural selection. In animal breeding many breeders could claim that all those degenerations are adaptive and bind the animals closer...more
Many of the information regarding the different genders in many species is very interesting.
However, I don't agree with everything and especially her definition of what defines a genetic disease is a bit naive in my eyes and only applicable under the conditions of natural selection. In animal breeding many breeders could claim that all those degenerations are adaptive and bind the animals closer...more
Stanford researcher and biology theorist Joan Roughgarden boldly challenges the core tenets of evolutionary biology, dispelling generalizations about intraspecies interactions for sexual reproduction. She persuasively heaps evidence against assumption after misguided assumption, building her case ultimately to question the key tenet of evolutionary biology: competition drives change over long periods of time. Rather, Roughgarden argues that cooperation - whether between organelles of a cell, b...more
laura
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
if you are seeking talking points to astound the uninformed and annihalate the transphobic
Recommended to laura by:
"Bust" magazine
Fascinating scientific writing about gender in nature that is accessible to laypeople. Turns out, there's several well-documented species out there with genders beyond male and female. What's more, it seems that sexual practices amongst several species include more than just a coupling of male and female for the purpose of procreation.
The first chapters of this book permanently changed the way I think about gender. Reading that nature provides so much variety in gender expression,...more
The first chapters of this book permanently changed the way I think about gender. Reading that nature provides so much variety in gender expression,...more
As I read this book, I found myself rooting in favor of her campaign to explain and embrace the diversity of gender and sexuality found throughout the natural world. I also commend her crusade to combat heterosexism and bigotry; nevertheless, I still find myself remaining skeptical of her claims against sexual selection. As one reviewer said, "Perhaps what Darwinian theory needs is not a radical revision but rather a simple expansion to take sexual diversity more seriously."
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John, who became Joan, writes a very comprehensive scientific history of what we knew 6 years ago (2004) about gender, gender identity, sex, sex roles, sexual orientation, and expressions of those qualities in humans and animals. I use this work in my scholarly writing because she is still the current authority on this subject (which shows you how difficult it is to get good science published around LGBTQI issues).
Kaliseviltwin
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people interested in gender issues and/or biological evolution
Recommended to Kaliseviltwin by:
Dr. Carrington
If you want to know more about the sex and gender issues of birds and fish than you even thought possible, this is the book for you.
I was skeptical after the first chapter of this book about whether the author's presentation of data would be objective. Although the author clearly has an agenda, which she never tries to hide, the assertions in the book are backed by science and reason.
The concepts in the book firmly reside in biological evolution. It is mercifully devoid...more
I was skeptical after the first chapter of this book about whether the author's presentation of data would be objective. Although the author clearly has an agenda, which she never tries to hide, the assertions in the book are backed by science and reason.
The concepts in the book firmly reside in biological evolution. It is mercifully devoid...more
There isn't a lot of scientific explanations. There are many, many short examples and 1-2 lines of explanation, but it isn't very rigorous. However, the examples are compelling and she cites every example with the paper she got it from so one can independently check the author's conclusions. The book really picks up after the 1st 3rd. This is pretty interesting, and it's worth reading.
Part One "Animal Rainbows" was my favorite part of this book because I learned more about this planet's diversity, which is always fascinating. I think "Animal Rainbows" was also where the author's passion and authority as a biologist really shone through. Part Two "Human Rainbows" was interesting, but lacked some of the intensity of "Animal Rainbows." The examples of cultural diversity in Part Three "Cultural Rainbows" made the final section wor...more
This is not science. While it's good to see that someone is trying to dispel myths about human sexuality and encourage acceptance of all people, to make the claim that this is science is beyond understanding.
The author claims that she has "disproved" Darwinian Sexual Selection, but this is not the case at all.
Does anyone really believe that one "gender" of bullfrog is an immature non-mating male and another "gender" of bullfrog is the same ma...more
The author claims that she has "disproved" Darwinian Sexual Selection, but this is not the case at all.
Does anyone really believe that one "gender" of bullfrog is an immature non-mating male and another "gender" of bullfrog is the same ma...more
Roughgarden seems to have misread Darwin and to never have read West Eberhard.
Must read, period!
this was my first exposure to evolutionary theory and it was remarkably easy to follow. i skimmed some of the long lists of examples but i think the author did an excellent job getting across how important and amazing biological diversity is. she doesn't shy away from making radical statements about science which i like and it is refreshing to see a trans author share her skills in a seemingly unrelated area. you would never know how many plants and animals are total genderfuckers!
This is an intriguing book for people with various interests. It offers a controversial assessment of evolutionary theory, an interesting look at the diversity of approaches to sex and roles played by sex in the animal kingdom, and grounds to reevaluate assumptions about what's "natural" with regards to human gender and sexuality.
It's an easy book to get through, you'll have fun reading it, and it will provide you with lots of little cocktail-party-worthy facts along the w...more
It's an easy book to get through, you'll have fun reading it, and it will provide you with lots of little cocktail-party-worthy facts along the w...more
I mostly read/flipped through this in a systematic fashion, hunting for information on specific topics (hermaphrodism and sexed/gendered division of reproductive labor). The rest of this though ... argh. Keep your politics out of my science please? (Even though in general I likely agree with the author's basic perspective.) And stop stretching things and inaccurately applying your paradigms to make points, even if they're points I agree with?
This is a really important book, despite being a little dry and hyperbolic at times.
Read half of this a while back, and am starting it again. So good...but so chuck full of facts that I hope I can make it through it this time.
Humanists cannot continue to theorize gender and sexuality without a nod to science. Joan Roughgarden provides the fuel for the feminist fire in breaking down the sex/gender binary and paving the way for a spectrum of gender and sexual expression across the species in the animal kingdom, and yes, that includes humans!
Came up in conversation with my biology professor about ideas on the fringe of science and how established themes in science resist disruption. The debate surrounding the ideas in this book being a classic example.
Fantastic! A science book that is accessible to a general audience but an essential read for anyone interested in issues of sexual and gender diversity which seems to matter a lot to we social primates!
For the queer/trans science nerd. Joan R. is an out trans ecologist who has done some very very famous ecology research. This book ROCKS. I give it as a gift to all my gay students.
Great book that takes a look at the side of biology not usually talked about. Has one of the best explanations of the difference between gender and sex that I've ever read.
One of those books that will totally change your views on animal, including human, genetics and sexuality. I must read!
started this great book & then had to return to library (single copy) so waiting for it to come back around to finish.
Ariel, I will try to read this book even though the title makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
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This is the book I most want to read right now. I have such high expectations...
transgendered fish! gay rams! lesbian monkeys! so many queer animals!
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Note: This is the same author as Jonathan Roughgarden, having come out as a transgendered woman in the late-1990's.
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