Re: Sex at Dawn and Limbaugh Article

In Chapter Three of Sex at Dawn, “A Closer Look at the Standard Narrative of Human Sexual Evolution”, there are some pretty bold theories surrounding the nature of human sexuality that are a bit off-putting to read as a female, and most likely, as a male too.  The chapter begins by stating that standard narratives are wrong in stating that men and women are liars, whores and cheats, but that humans are without a doubt, sexual beings.  It is a relief to hear in the first paragraph that the authors are not in favor of the theories they discuss, but the chapter makes me question whether or not there actually is some truth to those standard narratives.  The basic principles that the standard narratives offer suggest that life is a game and that males and females have a different stake and strategy in that game.  Men have a "male parental investment", or MPI, by which they exchanges goods and services for exclusivity with women worthy enough to reproduce their offspring.  Women, on the other hand, are deemed as having no libido and are therefore likened to prostitutes by accepting the goods and services for sex.  Furthermore, these standard narratives suggests that men are more concerned with their partners sexual infidelity because they fear the possibility of their partner getting pregnant by another man, while woman are more concerned with their partners emotional infidelity because they don’t want to lose the good and services he provides altogether.  In the end, neither the male nor female is happy when they realize that the love they once proclaimed for each other is all twisted game with a genetic agenda.  The tone of the chapter seems to mock these outdated narratives, but it is not clear to what extent.  It ends on a very cynical note and you are left wondering what to make of these narratives and what narratives the authors would replace these with. 

I found this Huffington Post article discussing the comments made by Rush Limbaugh interesting in the context of this chapter and our last class discussion because it focuses on the issue surrounding both male and female sexuality.  Aside from the fact that using the word “slut” is problematic, it addresses the fact that most couples, regardless of their background, are uncomfortable or dissatisfied with sex because of the double-edged sword associated with it.  In our society, sex becomes both a shameful and fearful act through exploitation and regulation.  The Rush Limbaugh criticism is fairly centered around the war on women, but as this article suggests, perhaps criticism should look beyond Rush Limbaugh to see society as a whole in relation to the war on sexuality.  Going back to chapter, it could be through this lens that a whole new narrative of sexuality overwrites the standard narrative I found so off-putting.