Are Women Sex Objects? An Evolutionary Perspective

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Finding a mate in life has a different meaning for each sex. For men the mission is easy, spread your seed. A man’s genetic disposition is to spread and diversify his genetic material (i.e. genes). To do that, a male must increase his chances of having sex. However, this creates an interesting situation for women. The female pattern for genetic survival is almost the exact opposite, focusing on monogamy. The female must find a mate who is best at allocating long-term resources. 

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This reality is best seen in birds. Take the example of the weaverbird. The female weaverbird (left) is not much to look at with bland dull colors. Conversely the male weaver bird (right) has vibrant colors and works diligently to build a nest in order to attract a mate. 

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After building a nest and getting the attention of a female through traditional matting displays, the male sings to the female while she inspects his nest. The outcome of this encounter can go one of two ways. Either the female can decide that the nest built by the male meets her standards and considers it a good home for her offspring and will then mate with the male accordingly, or she can leave. After which, if a few more suitors come to call and reject, the male bird will rebuild his nest. 

In order to attract a mate, peacocks fan their feathers and give an illlustrious presentation for females. The Peacock with (basically) the most beautiful tail will be sucessful in mating with a large amount of females. In experiments, researchers noticed that you could reduce the likelihood of copulation in the alpha male by removing his feathers. 

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This example can be vigorously applied to humans. Males attract females with a combination of social status and dedication (to their 'nest'). Women try to find a faithful spouse that will be a good nurturer and provide for the family. There is much being left out but these are the basic characteristics humans ascribe too. 

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What's different between humans and birds (when talking about mating strategies)? The difference is that women look beautiful to attract a man with a nice nest. This works with the classical gross rendition of 'men are pigs only interested in one thing' and women are 'gold diggers' trying to bag’em a rich one. 

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Does this make women sex objects? The short answer is yes, because sex makes the world go round. Courting an attractive mate has been, and always will be, a game of seduction. This makes both sexes a 'sex object' to the other. However, making a decision for a mate who you will 'settle down' and have children with is very different then finding a suitable partner for (say) the evening. There are many combinations and outcomes but these are the basic motives behind copulatoin and mate selection. Basically, men like sex, and women like security for themselves and their offspring which makes both parties guilty of objectifying the other.   

"Well if a woman is a whore slut who wears revealing clothes, then yes she is just a sex object.If she wears respectable clothes, has respect for her body and has intelligence then she is much much more" - Youtube user Crystal0mask comment on Playboy's Hefner: Women Are Sex Objects

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In modern human society their is a large difference between birds and the human way of selecting a mate but the basics are the same. The fact is that women mold the direction on any species by picking a partner with attributes they find attractive. Not only do the male birds have to build a great nest... they have to look good doing it. Birds, more than any species, show most explicitly why the burden of approval rests on the woman's shoulders. Meaning, the power women have over men is implicit and has everything to do with sex. 

Other References: Buss, David B. “The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating” Basic Books. Febuary 1995. 

Thanks for reading! 

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