Inter-sexual mate competition in three cultures

Abstract

Darwinian sexual selection theory holds that mate selection occurs inter-sexually, and mate competition occurs intra - sexually for opposite-sex partners. We demonstrate that inter -sexual mate competition can also occur among humans at appreciable rates that vary by culture. In Canada, inter-sexual mate competition was both rare and inconsequential. However, data from two disparate non-Western cultures—Samoa and the Istmo Zapotec (Oaxaca, Mexico)—show that women frequently compete with feminine same-sex attracted males to acquire and maintain masculine male mates (i.e., men). Inter-sexual mate competition most commonly involved feminine males attempting to poach women’s masculine male sexual partners. During these interactions, women and feminine males both attempted to manipulate the man who was the object of sexual competition; feminine males attempted to entice the target man, whereas women engaged in guarding and emotionally punitive behaviours. We do not anticipate that inter-sexual mate competition will be common in most species or across all cultures. However, when males and females prefer the same sexual partners, who themselves behave in a bisexual manner, then inter-sexual mate competition can ensue.

Evolution of Artistic and Athletic Propensities: Testing of Intersexual Selection and Intrasexual Competition

“…Intrasexual and intersexual selections work in different ways in non-heterosexual individuals (cf. Semenyna et al, 2020 ).…”

Heterosexual men's reactions to infidelity revisited: Comparing the sex role presentation of extradyadic female partners

“…Feminine and masculine-presenting women would be in competition, but the competition imposed by women who appear less bisexual to perceivers would present a threat to fitness. Akin to so-called third-gender males in non-Western cultures (e.g., Samoa), masculine-presenting women could engage in mate retention strategies (e.g., monopolization of time) that could reduce men's access to the reproductive opportunities afforded by their initial partner (Buss et al, 2008;Semenyna et al, 2020Semenyna et al, , 2022. Men may further not view masculine women as a reproductive opportunity based on an implicit theory of the lack of interest in male partners.…”

Bases ecológicas e evolutivas do comportamento humano

“…É possível que indivíduos que se relacionam com o mesmo gênero tenham experiências mais semelhantes com relação a ciúmes e desejo sexual por potenciais parceiros extra-par, diminuindo o conflito intersexual nestes relacionamentos (Mogilski 2021). Por outro lado, estes indivíduos podem estar mais suscetíveis a fatores de competição intrassexual que podem afetar a funcionalidade do relacionamento (Pachankis et al 2020;Semenyna et al 2020).…”