Why is there such a generational divide in views on #sex and #gender in #Britain? | Susanna Rustin

Under the guise Of a rational and quiet argument, Susana Rustin is nonetheless just giving into common missconceptions about the entengangled relations between #biology and #socio_anthropology, simultaneously making #SarahHrdy a sort of scientific caution for #gendercritical thesis.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/05/generational-divide-views-sex-gender-britain

Nice piece on #BrennaHassett 's new book 'Growing Up Human'

We would argue the #grandmothers and #cooperativechildcare (as per #SarahHrdy ) emerge first before #monogamy (which is pretty imperfect in humans anyway)

https://www.sapiens.org/biology/strangest-things-evolution-childhood/

In our view, the most significant book on #humanorigins from last century, focused on the emergence of #symbolicculture is #ChrisKnight 's
'Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture' (1991, Yale UP)

A #marxist and structuralist, Knight saw the domain of symbolism as critical to becoming human. He produced a comprehensive interdisciplinary volume combining #huntergatherer ethnography, #primate #behaviouralecology and #archaeology -- even early molecular genetics (this was when #AfricanEve was 1st dated). Following primatologists like #SarahHrdy he put female strategies front and centre of his account.

From his #socialanthropology background, Knight was aware of taboos on #menstruation and initiation #rituals, and the #totemic logic of sexual and economic exchange in hunter-gatherer economics. He argued for a culture-creating #sexstrike as source of human solidarity ✊

#humanorigins #sexstrike #humanrevolution

You can download the book here
https://libcom.org/article/blood-relations-menstruation-and-origins-culture-chris-knight-complete-book