[A Sip of Books] "Biology, Not Culture, Determines Gender Differences"

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a point of connection with the book. Here, we excerpt and introduce such meaningful sentences from the book. - Editor's note

This is a book by the world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal. Based on decades of research on human and animal behavior, he argues that biology does not provide a legitimate basis for existing gender inequalities. Although gender and biological sex are related, biology does not automatically support traditional male and female roles in human society. The book seeks answers in primate studies about what innate differences exist between men and women and the fact that these differences are determined by biology rather than culture.

Even among monkeys, preferences for human children based on sex were evident. Toys like cars, which are transportation devices, were mainly played with by males moving on the ground. Males also liked balls. On the other hand, females carried dolls more often, hugging them tightly or closely examining their genital areas. The latter behavior aligns with monkeys’ curiosity about the genitalia of newborn infants. Female monkeys gather around a mother who has just given birth, making grunting and smacking sounds loudly while spreading, poking, pulling the newborn’s legs, and sniffing between the legs. Such behavior is commonly observed. Primates have been exhibiting these behaviors long before humans invented 'gender reveal' parties.

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Male monkeys chose wheeled toys. Compared to females, who liked all toys, males showed a more single-minded tendency. Because males showed little interest in stuffed toys, most of these toys became the possession of females. Children show similar patterns, with boys displaying more distinct preferences for certain toys. The common explanation is that boys fear appearing feminine, whereas girls do not fear appearing masculine. However, if there is no evidence that monkeys are concerned with gender perception, it is unlikely they experience the same anxieties presumed to be felt by boys. The truth may be simpler: most boys and male primates may simply not be attracted to dolls. From Chapter 1, "Toys"

Gender is like a cultural coat that each sex wears and carries around. It relates to our expectations of men and women, which vary by society and change over time. However, some definitions are more radical, attempting to change the essence of gender itself. These definitions view gender as an arbitrary construct completely separate from biological sex. In other words, the coat moves around on its own, and how we decorate it is up to us. From Chapter 2, "Gender"

Thinking About Difference | Written by Frans de Waal | Translated by Lee Chung-ho | Sejong Books | 568 pages | 22,000 KRW

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