there's clearly a biological/genetic/evolutionary basis for sexism. Obviously, the average man's superior upper body strength compared to the average woman gives him the upper hand when "might makes right." And that's a basis of a lot of women's subordination (even though it's becoming technologically obsolete). The key question I have about efforts to use evolutionary theory to understand gender roles is whether or not they make a serious effort to separate the sociological factors from the genetic ones (and look at how sociology conditions biology and vice-versa). It's very hard to do. The hallmark of "sociobiology" is its tendency to ignore the sociological or rather to reduce all sociology to biology. in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
