Evolution's rainbow : diversity, gender, and sexuality in nature and people

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In this book, the author challenges accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation. She takes on the medical establishment, the Bible, social science - and even Darwin himself. She leads the reader through a ... discussion of diversity in gender and sexuality among fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, including primates. She argues that principal elements of Darwinian sexual selection theory are false and suggests a new theory that emphasizes social inclusion and control of access to resources and mating opportunity. She disputes a range of scientific and medical concepts, including Wilson's genetic determinism of behavior, evolutionary psychology, the existence of a gay gene, the role of parenting in determining gender identity, and Dawkins's "selfish gene" as the driver of natural selection. She dares social science to respect the agency and rationality of diverse people shows that many cultures across the world and throughout history accommodate people we label today as lesbian, gay, and transgendered and calls on the Christian religion to acknowledge the Bible's many passages endorsing diversity in gender and sexuality. In the book, she concludes with bold recommendations for improving education in biology, psychology, and medicine for democratizing genetic engineering and medical practice and for building a public monument to affirm diversity as one of our nation's defining principles.

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In this book, the author challenges accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation. She takes on the medical establishment, the Bible, social science - and even Darwin himself. She leads the reader through a ... discussion of diversity in gender and sexuality among fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, including primates. She argues that principal elements of Darwinian sexual selection theory are false and suggests a new theory that emphasizes social inclusion and control of access to resources and mating opportunity. She disputes a range of scientific and medical concepts, including Wilson's genetic determinism of behavior, evolutionary psychology, the existence of a gay gene, the role of parenting in determining gender identity, and Dawkins's "selfish gene" as the driver of natural selection. She dares social science to respect the agency and rationality of diverse people shows that many cultures across the world and throughout history accommodate people we label today as lesbian, gay, and transgendered and calls on the Christian religion to acknowledge the Bible's many passages endorsing diversity in gender and sexuality. In the book, she concludes with bold recommendations for improving education in biology, psychology, and medicine for democratizing genetic engineering and medical practice and for building a public monument to affirm diversity as one of our nation's defining principles.

Content Note

Introduction : Diversity denied -- pt. I. Animal rainbows. -- Sex and diversity -- Sex versus gender -- Sex within bodies -- Sex roles -- Two-gender families -- Multiple-gender families -- Female choice -- Same-sex sexuality -- The theory of evolution -- pt. II. Human rainbows. -- An embryonic narrative -- Sex determination -- Sex differences -- Gender identity -- Sexual orientation -- Psychological perspectives -- Disease versus diversity -- Genetic engineering versus diversity -- pt. III. Cultural rainbows. -- Two-spirits, mahu, and hijras -- Transgender in historical Europe and the Middle East -- Sexual relations in antiquity -- Tomboi, vestidas, and guevedoche -- Trans politics in the United States -- Appendix: Policy recommendations.