Offspring production among the extended relatives of Samoan men and fa'afafine
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Date
2012
Authors
VanderLaan, Doug P.
Forrester, Deanna Lee
Petterson, Lanna J.
Vasey, Paul L.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Androphilia refers to sexual attraction to adult males, whereas gynephilia refers to sexual attraction to adult females. Male
androphilia is an evolutionary paradox. Its development is at least partially influenced by genetic factors, yet male
androphiles exhibit lower reproductive output, thus raising the question of how genetic factors underlying its development
persist. The sexual antagonism hypothesis posits that the fitness costs associated with genetic factors underlying male
androphilia are offset because these same factors lead to elevated reproduction on the part of the female relatives of
androphilic males. Western samples drawn from low fertility populations have yielded inconsistent results when testing this
hypothesis. Some studies documented elevated reproduction among the matrilineal female kin of androphilic males,
whereas others found such effects in the paternal line. Samoa is a high-fertility population in which individuals reproduce
closer to their maximum capacities. This study compared the reproductive output of the paternal and maternal line
grandmothers, aunts, and uncles of 86 Samoan androphilic males, known locally as fa’afafine, and 86 Samoan gynephilic
males. Reproductive output was elevated in the paternal and maternal line grandmothers, but not aunts or uncles, of
fa’afafine. These findings are consistent with the sexual antagonism hypothesis and suggest that male androphilia is
associated with elevated reproduction among extended relatives in both the maternal and paternal line. Discussion focuses
on how this study, in conjunction with the broader literature, informs various models for the evolution of male androphilia
via elevated reproduction on the part of female kin.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal; open access
Keywords
Samoan men , Androphilia , Gynephilia , Fa'afafine , Reproductive output , Sexual antagonism
Citation
VanderLaan, D.P., Forrester, D.L., Petterson, L.P., & Vasey, P.L. (2012). Offspring production among the extended relatives of Samoan men and fa'afafine. PLoS ONE, 7(4): e36088. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036088