Biosexism

Annisha Arnold

Biosexism

**Biosexism**

The prefix “bio” refers to life or living organisms. When combining it with other words it becomes an indication of or involves life or living organisms (Farlex, 2011). The word “sexism” typically refers to discrimination based on gender but by combining the two terms “bio” and “sexism,” the term “biosexism” refers to the biology of sex. Biosexism plays an important role in sexual communication. The connections can be explained in a general description of biosexism’s relation to communication, in terms of different types of sexual selection and chemical sexual communication.

**Biology of Sex** Courtesy of Google Images

The term sex describes if a person is male or female. People may confuse this with the term gender, which refers to the non-biological characteristics that determine masculinity or femininity. Furthermore sexual reproduction, in biological terms, occurs when males and females engage in sexual activity, which, “involves combining specialized cells (or gametes) to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents” (Wikipedia, 2011). When people think of sex in terms of biology they typically think of biological connotations of what it means to be a male and what it means to be a female. That is they tend to think of body parts that males typically have and body parts that females typically have. In addition, people think of how those body parts are used in sexual intercourse which some may think of when they think of sexual communication. Although this is one way to think of it, there are others.

**Communication**

When people think of communication they think primarily of verbal or vocal communication between two or more people. However, communication involves both verbal and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication refers to the sounds that communicate. Nonverbal communication, on the other hand refers to those types of communication that involve no sound. For example, body motions are a type of non-verbal communication (personal communication-Quick, 2011). According to this description, people may wonder how people can communicate sexually or biologically.

**Biosexism and Communication**

Sexual communication generally refers to the communication of sex or communicating sexually. In more detail it “is the means by which individuals come to select potential partners for sexual relations, and through which the meanings, functions, and effects of sexual relations are negotiated” (La France, 2010). This type of communication can be both verbal and nonverbal. Communication in terms of biosexism is concerned with nonverbal communication. Professor Bond at the University of Illinois described that, “we cannot control this communication” (personal communication, 2011). This goes hand in hand with the idea that people communicate sexually subconsciously.

**Sexual Selection**



Courtesy of Google Images

Under Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the concept of sexual selection was developed. It refers to the differences between males and females in regards to reproduction and can be used to describe efforts to gain sexual possession of a mate. Sexual selection has two parts. The first is intersexual selection. The second is intrasexual selection (Darwin, 1871). Intersexual selection occurs typically with females. It refers to the female’s selection of a mate based on physical characteristics. Intrasexual selection can be described as competition between males for a female mate.

**Chemical Sexual Communication**

Chemical sexual communication refers to a body’s chemical behaviors that communicate sex. A major factor of chemical communication is pheromones. According to Regelson, “pheromones are surface related secretions we produce naturally from hormones and they transmit our sexual interest to others in a process that is largely subconscious” (Regelson, 2002). People encounter pheromones by the Jacobson organ. In other words, people detect pheromones by nose or scent. Men give off the scent through their sweat whereas women’s scent is given off by fertility. In the case of women, the intensity of the scent and men’s reaction to it is based on what stage of fertility a woman is at. What type of man a woman is attracted to can also be dependent on what stage of ovulation a woman is at. Although pheromones are a natural part of the body, there are things that can alter it. For example, the scent of a woman can diminish if she is on birth control. Hence, altering their attractiveness to men or men’s attractiveness to them. An example of this is that woman will tend to be more attracted to men who are tougher, unshaven or shaggy-looking when they are at the peak of their ovulation.

**Mate Guarding**

“Mate guarding refers to strategies designed to (a) preserve access to a mate while simultaneously (b) preventing the encroachment of intrasexual rivals, and (c) preventing a mate from defecting from the mateship” (Buss, 2002). There is a major connection between mate guarding and pheromones. When women are at their peak of fertility, their male mates tend to mate guard more than usual. If you recall, a woman’s scent changes in intensity when she is at different stages of ovulation. When a woman is at her peak, men are most attracted to her scent. Hence, the reason why men tend to mate guard more at that point. In general, less attractive women are guarded more during ovulation whereas more attractive women are mate guarded all the time (personal communication-Bond, 2011).

**Myths**

According to Professor Bond at the University of Illinois, there are some myths about some forms of biological or chemical communication. He clarifies that there is no gene that causes people to cheat on their mates. Another myth is that aphrodisiacs have a role in chemical/sexual communication. Although “there is no universal scent that is an aphrodisiac” there is research that suggests men can be turned on by particular food scents (2011).


 * References**

Bond, Professor Bradley, personal communication: lecture. February 2011.  [|Darwin, C] (1871) [|The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex]. John Murray, London. Farlex. (2011). Definition of “Bio.” April 8, 2011 from [] La France, Betty H. (2010). What Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Cues Lead to Sex?: An Analysis of Traditional Sexual Script. //Communication Quarterly//, 58.3: 97-318 M. Bus, David. (2002). Human Mate Guarding. //Neuroendocrinology Letters,// 4.23: 23-29 Quick, Professor Brian, personal communication: lecture. February 2011. Regelson, William. (2002). Understanding the Mystery of Sexual Attraction: Chapter 2. Smart Publications.

Wikipedia (2011). //Sex//. April 10, 2011. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex