Human Mating Rituals
We have all watched birds doing mating 'dances' adn calls, or seen TV shows about them. We also know about the mating invitations of dogs, caats, lions, etc. Humans have them as well.
Regardless of politics, feminist ideology or position, intercourse involves the insertion of the male's body into the female's. The male is seeking a female who is receptive to that reality. For humans, as for manyother mammals, the male is much larger and stronger (on average) than the female. The female, if she is to accept the male, needs some assurancee that he is approaching for intercourse, not to do violence to her.
Our mating rituals reflect these biologic realities. Men perform a variety of ritual activities adn gestures which provide reassurance to the female that he will not harm her- he opens doors, drives a car on dates, lights a cigarette, buys drinks. Quick- how many women ever drive on a first date? Right. Why? Also, no matter how fast a man likes to drive, he will always drive carefully on a first date, to make a good impression.
On the other side, the female listens attentively to the man. On how many first dates does the woman talk extensively about her work or hobbies? How many times does the man ask? Switch the sexes around and the answer is totally different. She will accept his gestures of door opening, etc, with a smile, essentially regardless of her socio-political stance or income status. She will express her interest in small hand gestures, especially in touching the man's arm or hand.
All this to say, on the part of the man, 'I will not harm you ', and on the aprt of the woman 'I will accept you'.
Those mating rituals really never change, even in marriage or extended dating. If a man does not show physical respect for the woman, he is not likely to receive an invitation for intercourse. If a woman does not show invitatory signs, she is unlikely to be approached, even in a couple who have an established realtionship.
A woman exposes her body to potential physicl harm when accepting a man for intercourse, and of course has the risk of pregnancy. The man must approach the woman with his desire, body and soul, for acceptance or rejection. What woman is likely to receive a man if he is violent, crude and neglectful? What man is likely to approach a woman if she is uninvitatory?
It takes courage to expose your body to risk. It takes courage to expose your sexuality to ridicule and rejection.
We have all watched birds doing mating 'dances' adn calls, or seen TV shows about them. We also know about the mating invitations of dogs, caats, lions, etc. Humans have them as well.
Regardless of politics, feminist ideology or position, intercourse involves the insertion of the male's body into the female's. The male is seeking a female who is receptive to that reality. For humans, as for manyother mammals, the male is much larger and stronger (on average) than the female. The female, if she is to accept the male, needs some assurancee that he is approaching for intercourse, not to do violence to her.
Our mating rituals reflect these biologic realities. Men perform a variety of ritual activities adn gestures which provide reassurance to the female that he will not harm her- he opens doors, drives a car on dates, lights a cigarette, buys drinks. Quick- how many women ever drive on a first date? Right. Why? Also, no matter how fast a man likes to drive, he will always drive carefully on a first date, to make a good impression.
On the other side, the female listens attentively to the man. On how many first dates does the woman talk extensively about her work or hobbies? How many times does the man ask? Switch the sexes around and the answer is totally different. She will accept his gestures of door opening, etc, with a smile, essentially regardless of her socio-political stance or income status. She will express her interest in small hand gestures, especially in touching the man's arm or hand.
All this to say, on the part of the man, 'I will not harm you ', and on the aprt of the woman 'I will accept you'.
Those mating rituals really never change, even in marriage or extended dating. If a man does not show physical respect for the woman, he is not likely to receive an invitation for intercourse. If a woman does not show invitatory signs, she is unlikely to be approached, even in a couple who have an established realtionship.
A woman exposes her body to potential physicl harm when accepting a man for intercourse, and of course has the risk of pregnancy. The man must approach the woman with his desire, body and soul, for acceptance or rejection. What woman is likely to receive a man if he is violent, crude and neglectful? What man is likely to approach a woman if she is uninvitatory?
It takes courage to expose your body to risk. It takes courage to expose your sexuality to ridicule and rejection.
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