Sex, gender and stature: From biology to culture - and back

Abstract

The origin of sexual dimorphism of stature (SSD) in the human species is a subject of debate, likely to have a sociocultural impact. Stature is optimally expressed in good environmental conditions, notably good food, with a strong hereditary determinism. The common academic interpretation, already proposed by Darwin, is that SSD results from sexual selection of stronger males, in most species of mammals, including humans. An alternative hypothesis proposes that it might result from alimentary gender coercion in humans. There is practically no SSD until female growth stops, by ossification of cartilage in the growth plates of long bones, largely under the action of estrogens. The mechanism is the same in males, with a delay due to a lesser and/or later concentration of estrogens. This explanation for SSD has the advantage of being valid for most mammalian species, including those like Pan paniscus where females are dominant. The fitness resulting from high estrogen levels would explain the relatively small stature of women, in spite of obstetric difficulties inversely correlated with height. If patriarchy is involved, it would be by the injunction of fertility rather than by alimentary coercion.