¶ … Evolution of Rape
One of the most controversial theories in evolutionary psychology is the idea that men have evolved a rape adaptation. This is considered a controversial notion because when this theory was introduced many people felt as if it was an attempt to provide excuse or justification for rape. For many years, sexual assault advocates focused on the idea that rape was about violence, not about sex, and it seemed as if the evolutionary idea might challenge that notion. However, that rape might be an evolutionary adaptation does not make it a moral or justifiable act, after all, there are undeniably evolutionary adaptations for situationally-dependent murder, but murder is universally considered immoral. Instead of viewing it as a reason to excuse rape, approaching rape as if there is a possibility that men have evolved a rape adaptation may actually help social scientist develop ways to decrease the frequency of sexual assaults.
There are a number of reasons that researchers suggest that sexual assault may be an evolutionary adaptation. One of the more interesting concepts is that there are animals that have actually physiologically evolved in order to perpetrate sexual assaults, showing that rape can be an evolutionary adaptation in other species (Buss, 2007). Moreover, researchers point to the fact that there appears to be a specialized rape strategy in orangutans, a great ape which would then lend more credence to the idea of humans having a rape adaptation (Buss, 2007). Proponents of rape as a product of evolution either view it as a specialized adaptation or a by-product that occurred as the result of adaptation of non-sexual assault specific mechanisms. To support...
Handmaid's Tale' creatively and chillingly hypothesizes about the rational result of a world in which draconian laws and convictions/beliefs about women and their bodies prevail. The women in the movie, have become completely subservient to men and to the needs of men. Even their bodies, have turned into playthings for men to use and abuse as they deem fit. In the 'The Handmaid's Tale', a handmaid cannot reject the
Until recently, schools had steered away from those types of teachings and focused primarily on standardized testing and basic skills. While these things are still a major part of modern education, they now tend to be supplemented by character education as well (Prestwich, 2004). The modern juvenile court system has headed in a more caring and facilitative in modern times as well. Not only are juveniles afforded more rights since
Jerry Coyne's Why Evolution is True I understand it contradicts the account in the Bible and other holy texts, if one takes a literalist interpretive stance, but given that most texts have more significant internal conflicts, I did not see why this particular theory would cause people to have such visceral emotional responses. I understand, intellectually, that evolution is not the first scientific advance to be met with tremendous hostility;
They accuse Coyne of giving modern intellectuals "permission to remain biologically illiterate, through assuring them there is nothing useful or important that they could learn that would help them address the intellectual problems they face." (Tooby and Cosmides). Without undertaking an independent investigation of the evidence used to support each author's work, it is impossible to determine who makes the most valid arguments. However, if the facts listed argued by
Death Penalty Evolution of the Death Penalty in Supreme Court Jurisprudence Capital punishment has been in existence for centuries. As early back as the Eighteenth Century B.C., the use of the death penalty was found in the Code of King Hammurabi (Death Penalty Information Center [DPIC], 2010). The utilization of the death penalty for designated crimes continued through the years and became incorporated in Britain's penal system (DPIC, 2010). Britain's use of
While feminists often militate for environmental conservation, one particular stance they take in this direction is that of addressing the issue of gender differences in environmental issues. The feminist approach to environmentalism promotes a superior role of women in the protection of the environment by presenting both females and the environment as reproductive forces of nature. Additionally, they argue that women are nurturers by nature and they are as such
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