Apr 4, 2023·edited Apr 4, 2023Liked by Bronwyn Williams
There's an interesting article by Byrne Hobart from a few years ago, The Pirahã Are Off By One (https://byrnehobart.medium.com/the-pirah%C3%A3-are-off-by-one-9c77eb66a6d9). His basic observation was that zero, one, or many is a decent approximation of reality. This can be applied to categorize organisms by how work is shared between males and females. In any given species, the prototypical male provides material support for zero, one, or many females. The case of zero is most prominent among hive insects, where the males are disposable and frequently killed after mating. Individuality among both genders is suppressed, with work carried out by selfless, childless females with the exception of the queen. The case of many is most common among mammals, where a small number of powerful, dominant males accumulate females. The case of one is most common among birds. Among pair-bonding birds, female-driven sexual selection predominates, leading males to develop beautiful plumage and impressive singing and dancing abilities.
Humans are a unique species in that we actually get to choose which category to belong to. Among collectivist societies, males converge to doing zero work, while women provide for the queen (the state). Among patriarchal societies, males provide for many females, yet ultimately control and own them. The West, by enforcing monogamy, encouraged a society where men don't just work to provide for the women they control, but work to impress them with creativity, innovation, and charming conversation.
Well you know maybe this shouldn't be so looked down upon. There is a thought group out there that actually carbon emissions would be way down if we cut all those useless, paper-pushing, no real value-added jobs out there. People would no need transport to work, offices could be smaller and more efficient, less paper would be wasted, etc etc...those are my thoughts ;-)
There's an interesting article by Byrne Hobart from a few years ago, The Pirahã Are Off By One (https://byrnehobart.medium.com/the-pirah%C3%A3-are-off-by-one-9c77eb66a6d9). His basic observation was that zero, one, or many is a decent approximation of reality. This can be applied to categorize organisms by how work is shared between males and females. In any given species, the prototypical male provides material support for zero, one, or many females. The case of zero is most prominent among hive insects, where the males are disposable and frequently killed after mating. Individuality among both genders is suppressed, with work carried out by selfless, childless females with the exception of the queen. The case of many is most common among mammals, where a small number of powerful, dominant males accumulate females. The case of one is most common among birds. Among pair-bonding birds, female-driven sexual selection predominates, leading males to develop beautiful plumage and impressive singing and dancing abilities.
Humans are a unique species in that we actually get to choose which category to belong to. Among collectivist societies, males converge to doing zero work, while women provide for the queen (the state). Among patriarchal societies, males provide for many females, yet ultimately control and own them. The West, by enforcing monogamy, encouraged a society where men don't just work to provide for the women they control, but work to impress them with creativity, innovation, and charming conversation.
Another Bronwyn resource. YES PLEASE 🤗
more of the same: "As India’s population soars, number of women in workforce shrinks" see https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/4/10/as-indias-population-soars-number-of-women-in-workforce-shrinks
Well you know maybe this shouldn't be so looked down upon. There is a thought group out there that actually carbon emissions would be way down if we cut all those useless, paper-pushing, no real value-added jobs out there. People would no need transport to work, offices could be smaller and more efficient, less paper would be wasted, etc etc...those are my thoughts ;-)