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Male Dominance is Not Universal for Primates

For years, the assumption of male dominance in primate societies has been widely accepted, with female power considered a rare exception. However, groundbreaking research conducted by The University of Texas at Austin challenges this long-standing presumption. The study, published in the journal Animals, explores power structures among 79 primate species, revealing the presence of female-biased power and social equality between the sexes across various primate groups.

The researchers divided the primate species into male-dominant, female-dominant, or co-dominant categories, examining variables that correlated with these social patterns. Surprisingly, the study found that male-biased power tended to emerge in species where males exhibited larger body size and longer canine teeth. On the other hand, female power structures were more likely in species where the supply of available female mating partners was lower than male demand, especially when there were minimal size differences between the sexes.

Rebecca Lewis, a professor of anthropology and co-author of the paper, highlighted the historical emphasis on male power in primate societies, often overlooking the significant role of female power. The research suggests that in primate species where males and females are similar in size, and females are less readily coerced by males, more egalitarian forms of power may come to the forefront.

While female power dynamics have been commonly observed in lemurs, the study sheds light on additional primate species with female-biased or equal power structures. Examples include gibbons in Southeast Asia and marmosets in the Americas. The findings challenge previous assumptions and call attention to the diversity of power dynamics within primate communities.

One of the key revelations of the study is the inability to confidently attribute a particular pattern of intersexual power to ancestral groups of primates. The assumption of ancestral male-biased power is debunked, emphasizing that various intersexual power relationships are common in primate societies. The researchers stress the need to explain all types of intersexual power dynamics rather than focusing solely on female-biased power.