This discussion focuses on the Barbi Doll hip-waist ratio, which is a fairly good predictor of a woman's ability to have many children. And that has been used in dolls for hundreds of years, in many cultures, independent of Mattel Toys and their patriarchy. Ok. But one obvious reason that favors blondness is never really addressed. Blond hair is a recessive trait from a genetic standpoint. Women with naturally blond hair are likely to be loaded with recessive traits. Which means that her offspring are more likely to: A) display hybrid vigor, and B) resemble the father, especially when the father carries lots of dominant genes.

This needs debating? There is obviously a biological tendency towards polygamy, and a cultural tendency towards monogamy. Both confer some advantages, and the combination creates tension.

Huh? Women can also benefit from polyandry if their husband is shooting blanks, or if she wants one of her kids to have a different father for some other reason. Most men would lose if we returned to the polygyny of old, where the rich and powerful had multiple wives, while the weak and poor had none.

Sure - sorta. The Japanese Kamikazees were Shinto. The modern suicide vest was developed by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. And suicide bombing has really caught on in Iraq recently, so that religion is on top of the charts today. But their point - that many men in Arab societies are unable to find wives (and thus are ripe for extremism) is true.

Statistically true, and harmonic with the age-old idea that having a son (or sons) equals reproductive success. But it doesn't justify the abortion of female fetuses that is so popular in some parts of the world. What happens when everyone there gets what they want, and their sons have no potential brides??

Again, statistically true. Not sure about their explanation on this one, though.

Most men peak at an early age. The surge of hormones at an early age can lead to creative genius, or crime. Yeah, andropause is a bitch. An under-recognized, so-slow-it-is-invisible bitch.

Interesting way to look at it.

Fits with the whole evolutionary biology framework, although now that contraceptives can uncouple sex with reproduction and women are more likely to have political office, this one may change over the next millenia or two.

They conclude "Abuse, intimidation, and degradation are all part of men's repertoire of tactics employed in competitive situations. In other words, men are not treating women differently from men—the definition of discrimination, under which sexual harassment legally falls—but the opposite: Men harass women precisely because they are not discriminating between men and women." Hmmm....

Your thoughts get entered below.