[lbo-talk] evolution & the female orgasm: men cleared

[JBrown72073 at cs.com]

>Miles writes:  
>> Umm--you're saying women don't know when they have orgasms?  If
>> we can assume the self-reports are accurate, we indeed have data
>> here that demonstrates a genetic influence on women's tendency to
>> have orgasms during intercourse.  Twin research has some problems,
>> but your criticism isn't one of them.

OK, then how do you explain societies in which ALL women report orgasms (such 
as Mangaians and a few other Polynesian islanders among whom female sexual 
pleasure is taught to both boys and girls) AND societies in which it is entirely 
unknown.  Population genetics?  

We may have little evidence (other than logic) that female orgasm is a direct 
adaptation, but that's different from saying it's not a universal female 
possibility.  Someone (Donald Symonds?) gives the analogy, we're not adapted to 
write or read, either, but nearly any human is equipped to do so.

Also, if you asked our oddly frigid twin sample if they get physical pleasure 
from sex (ignoring orgasm for a moment) I think you'll find the numbers 
higher.  Would that mean female sexual pleasure is an adaptation but the particular 
category of it, female orgasm, isn't?

Jenny Brown