"Monogamy" as "Natural"

Recently a discussion in the poly list on livejournal had me pulling from my archive of work in anthropology. I thought I would share here as well. This is basically a handout I made for the classes I taught in Human Evolution. It is the list of markers of a naturally monogamous species and how humans fit (or in this case don't) that definition. This is a biology definition, not a cultural one:

Monogamy - to mate exclusive with one opposite sex mate (usually until mate dies).

Characteristics of Monogamous Mammals

Territory - defended and exclusive
Sexual activity - infrequent
Same-sex adults - intolerant
Offspring - leave parental group
Social network - absent

Humans

Territory - Access through symbols, shared
Sexual activity - extremely variable
Same-sex adults - form groups including initiation rituals and task-oriented groups
Offspring - variable residence patterns, patrilocal, matrilocal, usually maintain contact with parents
Social network - elaborate, kin and non-kin social networks.

Most human groups do not practice monogamy. Most human sexual behavior includes more than one sexual partner for at least one sex. Many human cultures either sanction or tolerate sexual activity with more than one sexual partner. Even in cultures where monogamy or serial monogamy is the ideal, it may not be practiced.

If monogamy were “instinctual” rather than “learned,” it would not require elaborate social sanctions to enforce.

A Very Acquarian Birthday for me! Romance and activism!

Super-Aquarian! Sun and five planets in Aquarius. I am a born reformer!
(Click here for my birth chart and an explanation of what it means.)

So what does the Super-Aquarian do with her forty-second birthday -- when she finally is the answer to "life, the universe and everything"?

Well I started by signed six same-sex marriage licenses in San Francisco. I had gotten a call Thursday night asking me to be at the San Francsico Court House to legalize tobyiceblueeyes and poetgrrl. After a thrilling experience with them, I was asked by another Pagan couple in the (very long) line to stay and perform their marriage ceremony as well. So I spent three hours helping out and participated in a total of 6 ceremonies, and watched many many more. It was a beautiful morning. Changing the world for both individuals and for all of us. That was the perfect way to start my birthday.

Then I had to catch a train down to San Jose to join PantheaCon (Pagan convention) in process. I was late for my work shift with registration. I was able to help out some, but hopefully made up for the lost time over the next several days. That evening, I was spoiled by my sweetie uncledark (airshipjones had stayed home for the weekend.) He took me to a romantic restruant and fed me lovely treats. Then we spent some happy sweetie time in the hotel room.

And then the perfect end to the day, we went to the wedding of some lovely queer-Pagan friends held at the convention. (Where our house mead was served to the guests.)

What a completely wonderful day!

From Allaahtba

The "catalyst" character in my novel is called Allaahtba. I originally "saw" her in 1974 when I heard the amazing rock version of The Lord's Prayer by Sister Janet Mead (top of the charts in three continents that year). The power in that song still strikes a cord with me. This weekend, Allaahtba inspired me to rewrite the words as she would actually interpret them:

"Our ancestors, who are the stars, blessed be thy names. As thou have taught, so shall be done - on earth as it was in the heavens. Give us thy blessings of spirit and flesh; forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Oh, Divine, lead us not into temptation, but save us from evil, and the power and the glory forever will be ours."

Oh, lover where are you?

( Read more... )