A Mind of Her Own: The Evolutionary Psychology of Women

by Anne Campbell

Current theories of evolution portray men as active individuals forging their way forward through a mix of testosterone fuelled competition, rivalry, and aggression. But what role is left for women within such evolutionary thinking? The role women get is that of the passive, weak, individual left to ride on the coat tails of their male suitors. The default, no testosterone sex interested in just selecting the best male to expand the gene pool . Is it any wonder that feminists are dismissive of such evolutionary approaches? That many have sought to ignore the contribution that evolutionary theory can make to our understanding of women. But have women really just been bit part actors in the whole story of evolution? Have they not played their own role in ensuring their reproductive success?
In this highly accessible and thought provoking new book, Anne Campbell challenges this passive role of women in evolutionary theory, and redresses the current bias within evolutionary writing. Guiding us through the basics of evolutionary theory, she proposes that women have forged their own strategic way forward, acting through their own competition, rivalry, indirect aggression, and unfaithfulness, to shape their own destiny. Throwing down a challenge to feminist theories, Campbell argues that evolutionary theory can indeed teach us plenty about the development of the female mind - we just need to get it right. This is an important book that will force others to re-evaluate their own assumptions about the evolution of the female mind.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Evolution, Feminism, Science, Gender, Biology

404 pages, Hardcover

First published February 14, 2002

Reviews

[Alicia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most fascinating book I've read in at least a year. A lot of the evolutionary biology/psychology stuff can get rather Mars/Venus preachy, while simultaneously throwing the baby out with the bathwater in terms of treatment of feminism.

Campbell's book does a tremendous job of explaining the basic psychological and biological differences between men and women. It's stuff that can actually be proven scientifically, and even if it couldn't, it makes a lot more sense (to me, at least) than the notion we are each born a blank slate, with everything we do dictated by society/culture.

It's a shame that more feminists aren't open to the reality that we're basically fancy chimps in bras. The field of evolutionary psychology and biology is pretty fascinating. This is the only book I've recommended to people lately, and with good reason. If you want to know the real reasons why people (women and men) do the things they do, read this book.

My only complaint is that, reading the first hardcover edition, I came across a lot of editorial failures in terms of grammar. It's like some intern at the publishing house was assigned to edit the book, but not comprehending the material, skimmed it, leaving in mistakes.

P.S. Men will enjoy, and get as much out of, this book as women.

[Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evolutionary Psychology is one of the most important areas in psychology and is feminist's nightmare. A Mind of Her Own is a detailed guide to look at the differences in the two genders through biology and evolution. It was a really good read with a lot of studies cited throughout.

Ultimately, it's a well stocked arsenal of ammunition against feminism.

[Rita Issa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely eye-opening! A must-read for everyone.