Human females don't display their fertility status like other female animals do — or do they? Geoffrey Miller of the University of New Mexico decided to do some studies of this, and in a very unusual way: by comparing the earnings of women at "gentlemen's clubs" against the performers' menstrual cycle. His results are very interesting, but also quite understandable given the background of evolutionary development. It wouldn't make any sense, though, if the conservative Christian myths about human origins and relationships had any merit.
Miller's specific goal was to see if the apparent disappearance of outward signs of female oestrus — indications of ovulation — had been matched by a male ability to detect it anyway:
Dr Miller thought lap-dancing clubs a good place to study this arms race, because male detection of female fertility cues would probably translate into an easily quantifiable signal, namely dollars earned. He therefore recruited some of the girls into his experiment, with a view to comparing the earnings of those on the Pill (whose fertility was thus suppressed) with those not on the Pill.
The results support the idea that if evolution has favoured concealed ovulation in women, it has also favoured ovulation-detection in men. The average earnings per shift of women who were ovulating was $335. During menstruation (when they were infertile) that dropped to $185—about what women on the Pill made throughout the month. The lessons are clear.
Source: The Economist
I suppose dancers that want to earn more need to stop using chemical contraceptives that interfere with ovulation. I also think that conservative Christians are faced with one more strike against their mythology. If God created man and woman to have life-long marriages without sexual relations beyond the union, then why would males need any means to detect oestrus? It makes perfect sense in the context of the evolutionary "arms race," but none whatsoever in the context of Genesis.
I wonder if the signs of female oestrus were due to changes in her behavior. Maybe hormonal changes were effecting her behavior and giving away clues. Does the pill effect hormonal changes that occur during ovulation? Definitely more research is needed.
this is hardly a definitive study. there are numerous other factors that could have affected the result. a lot more research would need to be done before I’d buy that men can detect ovulation.
If anyone wants to put up the cash, I’ll help with the study!
Dave
I’m not sure, but I think you just made Austin’s point on evolution!
DOH!
It’s definitely a weird study.
The population would be my first issue, since strippers have their own subculture, and I think a lot of women probably would consider themselves to be somewhat different than that subgroup in many aspects–with their handling/view of sexuality being in the forefront of those differences.
I’m not making judgements here. I’m just acknowledging that a lot of women would not consider themselves to be a lot like strippers in a lot of ways–a big part of that would be sexuality. Now, whether or not that’s actually true–that they are different–I have no idea. But they perceive themselves as different. So, I’m not certain that a study about “women” that isn’t randomized–but is focused on a subgroup who makes a living selling their sexuality–is the best focus area.
On the one hand–it’s a study regarding sex to some degree. However, as I noted above, a woman working with scant to no clothing is going to have certain “issues” around her menstruation cycle that aren’t problems at other times. And while I’m sure these women have methods of coping or working around these issues, I can’t imagine it’s as hassle free as not having to deal with it at all.
So, without being more graphic than that. I’d have questions for these women as well as to the researchers about what they accounted for. Now, to be fair, they probably did consider a lot of what I’m hinting at. But as a female, I have to say that just off the top of my head, if I was stripping for a living, I can imagine some problems I’d have to work around if I was menstruating vs. if I was not.
I would not be at all suprising if men were able to detect ovulation. We know women have different tastes in men while they are ovulating and that men pick up on this and become more protective of mates. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060426081918.htm
Men find the scent of ovulating women more attractive
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0962-8452%2820010422%29268%3A1469%3C797%3AFBOIAP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage
…and historically, selection pressure would have been high for this ability. (He who has sex with a women during ovulation has his genes passed on)
Well… then of course maybe we can’t detect it. http://www.anthro.fsu.edu/people/faculty/marlowe_pubs/is%20ovulation%20concealed.pdf
This topic would be great for a grad thesis. I can imagine an experiment with males trying to match t-shirt scent to photographs of the women… some who are ovulating some who arent. fun fun.
Oh Man! Why didn’t I think of this first?
This Dr. Miller is a “real man of genius”.
Yeah, I can hear it now…
“Sorry, Honey. I’m off to the strip clubs. You know I’d _rather_ be with you–but duty calls. I just have a ton of ‘research’ left to do.”
“If anyone wants to put up the cash, I’ll help with the study!
Comment by dave — November 1, 2007 @ 3:48 pm”
Small bills preferred, of course.
When a group of “girlfriends” go out for a night of dancing, those that are ovulating tend to wear clothing that is more revealing than they would otherwise.
Perhaps women could time their job interviews or requests for raises from male bosses while they are ovulating.
Just off the cuff but I have a friend who can tell, without obvious signs, that a woman is pregnant. Invariably he is right.
It doesn’t disprove God, just that he knows that mean are stupid. If he didn’t build sex and reproduction into man’s genetics then he knows we would just watch football and never procreate.