A new classification of mammalian uni-male multi-female groups based on the fundamental principles governing inter- and intrasexual relationships

Human Females as a Dispersal-Egalitarian Species: A Hypothesis about Women and Status

“…Second, Sterck et al (1997) concludes that when primate females disperse, they form egalitarian relationships with unrelated females in their new communities. Third, recently Hex et al (2021) extended Sterck et al's findings by providing detailed analyses of how unrelated females in multi-female uni-male mammals mating systems compete and gain status. These include using scramble competition and not tolerating status differentials, as well as disliking newcomers, and not forming differentiated relationships or coalitions until two or more females have been together for a long interval, then exhibiting jealousy towards interlopers.…”

“…In multi-female, uni-male harems (polygynous mating systems), females can be related or unrelated and the lone male can be present for extended or brief periods (Hex et al, 2021). When females are related, they form a stable core, and the male is unimportant.…”

“…When females are unrelated in multi-female, uni-male harems however, each female's primary bond is to the male (Hex et al, 2021). The loss of the male leads to the disbanding of the group.…”

“…If women can marry a higher status mate, which they prefer, then they can increase their own status (Vermande & Sterck, 2020;Walter et al, 2020). Although most women within multi-female multi-male communities form monogamous bonds (Walker et al, 2011), a small minority of join polygynous unions which resemble multi-female unimale bonds in non-human primates (Hex et al, 2021).…”

“…From a woman's perspective, when sisters share a husband, the sisters' relationship takes precedence over their marital bond (Jankowiak et al, 2005) similar to related females in non-human multi-female uni-male non-human mating systems (Hex et al, 2021). Unrelated co-wives however generally compete over sexual access to and emotional intimacy with their common husband and prefer keeping their distance from one another (Jankowiak et al, 2005), again similar to unrelated females in multi-female uni-male non-human mating systems.…”