‘Females are not innately disposed to organize into hierarchies… primate males appear to be the archetypal “political animal”,’ was the woeful conclusion of Female Hierarchies, the first ever textbook specifically devoted to female dominance relations. This could not be more wrong. Strategic competition amongst females is central to primate organization. Most female primate societies feature stable heritable matrilines, which compete with one another using psychological intimidation, tactical alliances and cruel punishment in their ruthless battle for control.
