Stratification - Stratification Sociology - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology

Download Stratification - Stratification Sociology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Evolutionary Basis of Stratification docsity.com Presentation Outline • Basics of evolutionary theory and sociobioloy • Evolutionary basis for gendered minds • A gendered perspective of cultural evolution • Lopreato’s summary: sociological implications docsity.com Darwin’s Theory (continued) 5. Differential reproductive success is caused by variations in genetic endowments. 6. Some variations are better adapted than others for competition; offspring are more likely among better adapted individuals/populations. 7. The preservation of favorable variations and elimination of unfavorable variation – natural selection – is due to differential reproduction. 8. Species transformation (diversification), via natural selection, leads to the creation of new species. docsity.com Evolution • “Descent with modification” • The process is uniform across species and ecological systems • Transformation: change in gene frequencies (microevolution) • Diversification: introduction of new genetic material (macroevolution) docsity.com Three Evolutionary Processes • Natural Selection: preservation/elimination of favorable/unfavorable variation • Heredity: the transmission of qualities from ancestor to descendent through genes • Mutation: modification existing genetic material docsity.com The Naturalist • American biologist, Edward O. Wilson: wrote Sociobiology, published in 1975. • Synthesized work of other scientists, such as Robert Trivers and Richard Dawkins (“The Selfish Gene”). • Wilson also extracted ideas from his own work with ants, a member of the order Hymenoptera: “social insects.” docsity.com The Anthropologists • Napoleon Chagnon’s studies of the Yamamano people (“The Fierce People”) correlated aggression with reproductive success. • Anthropologists John Tooby and Leda Cosmides coined the term “evolutionary psychology” to neutralize conflict regarding biological basis of inequality. docsity.com The Cognitive Linguists • Noam Chomsky and Steven Pinker weigh in from a cognitive-linguistic perspective of human nature. • We know too little about core human capacities to make any final judgments about the validity of genetic vs. cultural theories of human behavior. docsity.com An evolutionary basis for gendered minds Steven Pinker and Margo Wilson and Martin Daly docsity.com Theoretical Background • Common theoretical underpinning to both of these readings: Trivers (1972) Theory of Differential Parental Investment - If one gender is more invested (in terms of time, energy, and resources) in their offspring, this will lead to different selection pressures between the sexes. docsity.com Elaboration • Human women must invest a minimum of 9 months pregnant, A man…30 minutes (a generous estimate). • This difference will lead sexes to pursue very different reproductive strategies: men being less selective in choosing mates and females being highly selective. • In this scenario women are the limiting factor in reproduction, thus men will tend to compete for their “affections” docsity.com Pinker’s Arguments • Pinker’s intent is more general as he is seeking to establish that sexes have behavioral and physiological differences (in terms of population means), which are genetically based. docsity.com Pinker’s evidence • Pinker cites numerous “natural experiments” in which children genetically of one gender were raised the other and eventually came to identify as their true gender. • All human cultures share a sexual division of labor and the belief in different “natures”. • Mitochondrial DNA (inherited from Mom) tends to be more diverse than Y chromosome DNA (from Dad) • Androgens (e.g.-testosterone) have definitively been shown to associated with aggression, libido and self- confidence. They also have permanent, masculinizing effects on the developing brain. docsity.com Brain Differences • There are differences in brain anatomy. • Hence, there are differences in cognition, sensation and emotion. • Male aggression is a mammalian adaptive trait related to fitness, which can be intensified or mitigated via socialization. • Key question: To what extent are differences biologically vs. socially defined? docsity.com Evidence • Swallows and Dunnocks • Strict female monogamy not likely historically-testes size • Harems • Jealousy: normal reaction • Differential care to genetic and step children • Adultery: generally defined as a female act often legally punishable docsity.com A gendered perspective of cultural evolution Rae Lesser Blumberg docsity.com Retreat to an Utopian Past • This piece is somewhat dated; however, it raises interesting points about the female relationship to power and production in societies. • Most of its points concern CULTURAL evolution (à la Lenski); thus we will only discuss a few salient points. docsity.com The Origin of Material Inequality • Sharing: occurs mostly in absence of surplus • Surplus: changes family structure; inheritance emerges docsity.com Environmental “Lushness” • Abundant and reliable food sources – as well as other resources – facilitate more complex family structures. • This family extension – beyond a nuclear unit - leads to less group sharing and increases sedentism, which leads to surplus. • Inheritance systems emerge. docsity.com Cultivation • Internal and external population pressures create a need for more food. • Planting occurs. • Women enlist their children to help grow food. • Resource scarcity and population pressure leads to class stratification. docsity.com Female Economic Power • Weber’s definition of power is the foundation. • The extent of women’s control (relative to men’s) of production means and surplus distribution. • Begins with labor production and can lead to land and capital. docsity.com Female Participation in Production • Two key factors: 1) Economic activity’s compatibility with child care responsibilities. 2) The supply of male labor relative to demand • Other “poker chips”: • Strategic indispensability • Kinship system • Men’s participation in child-rearing • Male superiority ideology • “Life Options” docsity.com In Summary: Female Paradigm 1) Power is most affected by control of production means. 2) Strategic indispensability is essential. 3) Kinship arrangement facilitate economic power and mitigate force. 4) Females are most oppressed when they have little or no economic power. 5) Females can translate relative economic power into greater life options. docsity.com