Divergent competitive phenotypes between females of two sex-role-reversed species

Synopsis Females of some species are considered sex-role reversed, meaning that they face stronger competition for mates compared to males. While much attention has been paid to behavioral and morphological patterns associated with sex-role reversal, less is known about its physiological regulation. Here, we evaluate hypotheses relating to the neuroendocrine basis of sex-role reversal. We refute the most widely tested activational hypothesis for sex differences in androgen secretion; sex-role reversed females do not have higher levels of androgens in circulation than males. However, we find some evidence that the effects of androgens may be sex-specific; circulating androgen levels correlate with some competitive phenotypes in sex-role reversed females. We also review evidence that sex-role reversed females have higher tissue-specific sensitivity to androgens than males, at least in some species and tissues. Organizational effects may explain these relationships, considering that early exposure to sex steroids can shape later sensitivity to hormones, often in sex-specific ways. Moving forward, experimental and correlative studies on the ontogeny and expression of sex-role reversal will further clarify the mechanisms that generate sex-specific behaviors and sex roles.

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Geschlechtsspezifische Ideale im Wandel der Zeit

Zeitschrift für Differentielle und Diagnostische Psychologie ◽

10.1024/0170-1789.25.3.165 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 165-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Karl Ralf Swazina ◽

Karin Waldherr ◽

Kathrin Maier

Keyword(s):

Sex Role ◽

Bem Sex Role Inventory

Zusammenfassung: Ausgehend von vorhandenen Hypothesen einer zeitlichen Veränderung der Sozialen Erwünschtheit der femininen und maskulinen Eigenschaften des Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974 ; Schneider-Düker, 1978 ) für Frauen und Männer wurden im Zuge einer ersten Datenerhebung insgesamt 90 Eigenschaften von 42 Studierenden der Universität Wien eingestuft. Für acht feminine und fünf maskuline Eigenschaften des BSRI wurde eine Abweichung zwischen den neu erhobenen Werten und jenen von 1978 festgestellt. Zusätzlich ergaben sich aus diesem und einem zweiten Datensatz für einige weitere Eigenschaften Hinweise eines zeitlichen Wandels der Sozialen Erwünschtheit. Diese wurden im Zuge einer zusätzlichen Datenerhebung überprüft, wobei jene 90 Eigenschaften nun von 314 StudentInnen eingestuft wurden. Die Ergebnisse der ersten Erhebung konnten bestätigt sowie für weitere sieben maskuline und vier feminine Eigenschaften ein Anstieg der Sozialen Erwünschtheit für das jeweils andere Geschlecht festgestellt werden. Die erfassten Unterschiede zu früheren Normen werden im Sinne einer veränderten Auffassung über weibliche und männliche Ideale in unserer Gesellschaft interpretiert.

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The Relationship of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Gender-Role Orientation in Four National Samples

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001.28.2.78 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 78-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Stefan J. Troche ◽

Nina Weber ◽

Karina Hennigs ◽

Carl-René Andresen ◽

Thomas H. Rammsayer

Keyword(s):

Gender Role ◽

Sex Role ◽

Role Orientation ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Gender Role Orientation ◽

Left Hand ◽

Fourth Finger ◽

And Gender ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. The ratio of second to fourth finger length (2D:4D ratio) is sexually dimorphic with women having higher 2D:4D ratio than men. Recent studies on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation yielded rather inconsistent results. The present study examines the moderating influence of nationality on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation, as assessed with the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, as a possible explanation for these inconsistencies. Participants were 176 female and 171 male university students from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden ranging in age from 19 to 32 years. Left-hand 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower in men than in women across all nationalities. Right-hand 2D:4D ratio differed only between Swedish males and females indicating that nationality might effectively moderate the sexual dimorphism of 2D:4D ratio. In none of the examined nationalities was a reliable relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation obtained. Thus, the assumption of nationality-related between-population differences does not seem to account for the inconsistent results on the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gender-role orientation.

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