Tue
Apr
22
Evolution & The Female Orgasm
Evolutionary biologists seem unable to agree on the point of the female orgasm. Some claim it is borne out of the necessity of the male orgasm, much like nipples in males are an (occasionally) happy byproduct of the necessity for female nipples; but a lot of biologists contest the actual necessity of the male orgasm.
Writes Rick Garlikov:
Symons is said to have argued that orgasm is possible in women because it is evolutionary crucial for the continuation of the species that men have orgasm and that women’s orgasms are a byproduct of the necessity of male orgasm. The theory is that because embryos of both sexes have a common early development, that when male orgasm is “selected for” by evolution, female orgasm is coincidentally selected for as well, and thus that it is a “byproduct” of male orgasm’s role in evolution.
Garlikov goes on to contest this using a number of absorbing examples:
Moreover, there are many things we do because of the urge to do them, but not because they give us explosive pleasure. For example, we eat when we are just slightly or moderately hungry, even though if we waited in order to build up our appetite, we might enjoy the food more. Once in a while, we have a terrible craving for something like pizza or chocolate, and the pleasure of taking the first or second or even last bite is extremely pleasurable and satisfying, but for the most part, eating food or drinking water is something we do because we are somewhat hungry or thirsty, not something we do in order to have an intensely pleasurable experience that is explosive.
This is a fascinating essay, and some of Garlikov’s points are very compelling.