worse: misleading: for the impression is that the problem concerns women only, and is no concern of men. This said, I have to admit that I don’t think it’s much of a problem for either men or women. Sexual oppression, Dr. Konner says, has been “bulwarked and bas- tioned by theories of ‘natural’ gender differences.” This, God knows, is It was not only the great egalitarians of the Left and of feminism, but the scientists, too, who have taught and shown that to be different is not to be inferior, not to be superior, but to be different. true. But it doesn’t mean that an opponent of sexual oppression has to want to deny that there are gender differences. There’s a difference between a fact and a damn fool theory that distorts the fact; to despise the theory isn’t to fear the fact. It was not only the great egalitarians of the Left and of feminism, but the scientists, too, who have taught and shown that to be different is not to be inferior, not to be superior, but to be different. And that difference is the engine of evolution and the most enterprising device of sex, as well as the essence of individuality. Quite unaided by scientists, people have noticed differences between women and men. Awareness of the fact that men generally have a penis and women a vagina isn’t going to hinder the cause of social justice; ignorance of the fact might set us back a good bit. As for the subtler distinctions of physiology and behavior discussed in Dr. Konner’s article, offered as testable or verifiable observations and hypotheses, they are very interesting and possibly useful. They do not in any way justify injustice. Injustice is not justified by facts: only by power, fear, and the lie. Elaine Spencer Many animals have very stereotyped sexual behavior responses to specific sexual stimuli. The effects of hormones on the responses of these animals is relatively easy to study. The human animal is not nearly so simple. The extent to which biological function determines social function is a totally unsolved problem in human society. The mechanism by which the physiological and psychological manifestations of sex are orchestrated and carried out in simpler organisms is the only question elementary enough to be investigated at present. Reproductive behavior does have a psychological component. The origin of that component must be in the chemistry of the hypothalamus, for, acting as a gland, it secretes the stimulating hormones that trigger sexual development and function. The hypothalamus is also the seat of the emotions. It is true that in animal studies testosterone has been shown to produce aggressive behavior. There are also studies showing that men who complain of weakened interest in sex or of impotence tend to have high blood prolactin concentrations. Usually high prolactin in men is correlated with low testosterone. Prolactin in women stimulates milk production following childbirth. It is, therefore, remarkable that the sow bear with cubs is one of the most aggressive and ferocious of animals. Thus, Nurturance is an even more nebulous and indefinable quality than aggression. Is the female turtle who buries her eggs and leaves them to the sun to hatch less nurturant than the female hamster who nurses, but sometimes eats her young? in this case, a co-existence is shown between aggression and nurturance, stimulated by a hormone that decreases the hormone stimulation of aggression in the male. Many such paradoxical occurrences are found in animals. How much more complex is the physiology and psychology of man! Nurturance is an even more nebulous and indefinable quality than aggression. Is the female turtle who buries her eggs and leaves them to the sun to hatch less nurturant than the female hamster who nurses, but sometimes eats her young? How about the male penguin who all through the Antarctic winter night cradles his precious eggs on his feet while his mate restores her depleted body protein before taking her turn? Pigeons of both sexes secrete milk to feed their nestlings. The male gorilla runs an establishment similar to that of a sea lion bull while some apes are as monogamous as the whooping crane. The female Belding’s ground squirrel participates in a social order from which all males are excluded. Feminine cooperation stretches the average life of the female ground squirrel to 13 years, while males live an average of two years. If humans must learn about their own normal sexual behavior pattern from animals, they will certainly receive mixed signals. Every possible variation occurs above the most primitive of animals. David Kabat History has demonstrated that we must be wary when anthropologists strive to interpret science to the lay public in an emphatic manner. Such an approach formerly gave us the myths of the superior “white” and of the “great Aryan super race.” Consider just a few of the sexist errors in Konner’s article: (1) Konner implies that only female scientists have made important contributions to this field. Totally false. (2) He asserts strongly and repeatedly that these female scientists were forced to reach their conclusions against their innate female-oriented wishes or prejudices. He has no evidence for this whatsoever, thereby maligning the humanity and objectivity of these scientists who happen to be women. (3) Konner asserts that Margaret Mead is the originator of the field in 1 &ANE5-H IMPORTS Yes, Portland, there is an alternative GREAT \ NORTHWEST BOOKSTORE 915 S. IT. Ninth Portland, Or. 97205 223-8098 25% off with this ad through March 31, 1983 HIGH QUALITY USED AND OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS ... REASONABLE PRICES OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 11:30-7:00 Clinton St. Quarterly 29
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