Female Social Networks Research Articles

Knockouts of high-ranking males have limited impact on baboon social networks.

Social network structures can crucially impact complex social processes such as collective behaviour or the transmission of information and diseases. However, currently it is poorly understood how social networks change over time. Previous studies on primates suggest that `knockouts' (due to death or dispersal) of high-ranking individuals might be important drivers for structural changes in animal social networks. Here we test this hypothesis using long-term data on a natural population of baboons, examining the effects of 29 natural knockouts of alpha or beta males on adult female social networks. We investigated whether and how knockouts affected (1) changes in grooming and association rates among adult females, and (2) changes in mean degree and global clustering coefficient in these networks. The only significant effect that we found was a decrease in mean degree in grooming networks in the first month after knockouts, but this decrease was rather small, and grooming networks rebounded to baseline levels by the second month after knockouts. Taken together our results indicate that the removal of high-ranking males has only limited or no lasting effects on social networks of adult female baboons. This finding calls into question the hypothesis that the removal of high-ranking individuals has a destabilizing effect on social network structures in social animals.

Kinship and similarity in residency status structure female social networks in black‐and‐white colobus monkeys (colobus vellerosus)

Kinship shapes female social networks in many primate populations in which females remain in their natal group to breed. In contrast, it is unclear to which extent kinship affects the social networks in populations with female dispersal. Female Colobus vellerosus show routine facultative dispersal (i.e., some females remain philopatric and others disperse). This dispersal pattern allowed us to evaluate if facultative dispersed females form social networks shaped by an attraction to kin, to social partners with a high resource holding potential, or to similar social partners in terms of maturational stage, dominance rank, and residency status. During 2008 and 2009, we collected behavioral data via focal and ad libitum sampling of 61 females residing in eight groups at Boabeng-Fiema, Ghana. We determined kinship based on partial pedigrees and genotypes at 17 short tandem repeat loci. Kinship influenced coalition and affiliation networks in three groups consisting of long-term resident females with access to a relatively high number of female kin. In contrast, similar residency status was more important than kinship in structuring the affiliation network in one of two groups that contained recent female immigrants. In populations with female dispersal, the occurrence of kin structured social networks may not only depend on the kin composition of groups but also on how long the female kin have resided together. We found no consistent support for females biasing affiliation toward partners with high resource holding potential, possibly due to low levels of contest competition and small inter-individual differences in resource holding potential.

Female Social Networks and Farmer Training: Can Randomized Information Exchange Improve Outcomes?

Female Social Networks and Farmer Training: Can Randomized Information Exchange Improve Outcomes?

Social Stability and Health: Exploring Multidimensional Social Disadvantage

Social stability is an understudied construct in public health that offers a useful framework for understanding social disadvantage across multiple domains. This study investigated prevalence and patterns of cooccurrence among a hypothesized set of social stability characteristics (housing, residential transition, employment, income, incarceration, and partner relationship), evaluated the possibility of underlying subgroups of social stability, and investigated the association between social stability and health outcomes. Data were from comprehensive interviews with primarily African-American low income urban women and their female social network members (n = 635) in Baltimore. Analysis included exploratory statistics, latent class analysis, and latent class regression accounting for clustered data using Stata and Mplus software. Social stability characteristics cooccurred in predictable directions, but with heterogeneity. Respondents had an average of three stability characteristics (S.D.: 1.4). Latent class analysis identified two classes of social stability: low (25%) and high (75%), with the higher class less likely to experience each of the included indicators. In controlled models, higher social stability was significantly correlated with social network characteristics and neighborhood integration. Higher social stability was independently associated with reduced risk of chronic illness (AOR: 0.54, 95% C.I.: 0.31, 0.94), mental illness history (AOR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.39), and current depressive symptoms (AOR: 0.35, 95% C.I.: 0.22, 0.57). The current set of social stability characteristics appears to represent a single construct with identifiable underlying subgroups and associated health disparities. Findings suggest a need for comprehensive policies and programs that address structural determinants of cooccurring social disadvantage and help to mitigate the likely spiral effect of instability experiences.

Male sexual harassment alters female social behaviour towards other females

Male harassment of females to gain mating opportunities is a consequence of an evolutionary conflict of interest between the sexes over reproduction and is common among sexually reproducing species. Male Trinidadian guppies Poecilia reticulata spend a large proportion of their time harassing females for copulations and their presence in female social groups has been shown to disrupt female-female social networks and the propensity for females to develop social recognition based on familiarity. In this study, we investigate the behavioural mechanisms that may lead to this disruption of female sociality. Using two experiments, we test the hypothesis that male presence will directly affect social behaviours expressed by females towards other females in the population. In experiment one, we tested for an effect of male presence on female shoaling behaviour and found that, in the presence of a free-swimming male guppy, females spent shorter amounts of time with other females than when in the presence of a free-swimming female guppy. In experiment two, we tested for an effect of male presence on the incidence of aggressive behaviour among female guppies. When males were present in a shoal, females exhibited increased levels of overall aggression towards other females compared with female only shoals. Our work provides direct evidence that the presence of sexually harassing males alters female-female social behaviour, an effect that we expect will be recurrent across taxonomic groups.

Social relationships between adult females and the alpha male in wild tufted capuchin monkeys

Primates are notable for the widespread presence of long-term female-male associations which go beyond the mating context. However, little attention has been given to the factors that affect within-species variation in female-male relationships, especially among New World primates. Although detailed accounts of heterosexual relationships in Cebus species are scarce, a few studies have suggested the occurrence of strong associations between adult females and high-ranking males. This study explores affiliative relationships between females and the alpha male during the nonbreeding season in wild tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus). Affiliative relationships were explored through female-male patterns of spatial proximity and grooming. By adopting a social network approach, we analyzed: (1) whether the alpha male is the preferred male partner for females and, (2) whether variation (if any) in female-alpha male affiliation can be explained through both female individual characteristics and social network metrics. Our results showed that alpha males were the favorite male partner for adult females in the proximity networks, but this did not hold true in the grooming networks. In addition, female-alpha male interaction patterns showed considerable variation, with only some females being strongly associated with the alpha male. Our results suggest that such a variation can be explained by female dominance rank, level of centrality (the quantity and intensity of spatial connection with other females) and prestige (the quantity of grooming received by other females) in female-female social networks. Taken together, these findings highlight two aspects of female-alpha male relationships in tufted capuchin monkeys: the alpha male represents the most socially integrated male in the group, and females with high dominance ranks and high centrality in both proximity and grooming networks show stronger relationships with the alpha male.

Cyclicity in the structure of female baboon social networks

There is an established and very influential view that primate societies have identifiable, persistent social organizations. It assumes that association patterns reflect long-term strategic interests that are not qualitatively perturbed by short-term environmental variability. We used data from two baboon troops in markedly different habitats over three consecutive seasons to test this assumption. Our results demonstrate pronounced cyclicity in the extent to which females maintained differentiated relationships. When food was plentiful, the companionships identified by social network analysis in the food-scarce season disappeared and were replaced by casual acquaintanceships more representative of mere gregariousness. Data from the fourth, food-scarce, season at one site indicated that few companions were re-united. It is likely that this reflected stochastic variation in individual circumstances. These results suggest that attention could profitably be paid to the effects of short-term local contingencies on social dynamics, and has implications for current theories of primate cognitive evolution.

Female social networks influence male vocal development in brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater

Previous work has found that adult female brown-headed cowbirds, who do not sing, shape male vocal structure when in restricted housing. The present work extends this finding to a flock setting to examine the role of social behaviour in shaping male vocal development. We housed juvenile males with either adult or juvenile females in large flocks. Over the course of a year, we recorded their song and social behaviour. We found in early autumn that juvenile males housed with adult females improvised more song elements than males housed with juvenile females. During late autumn, we switched the males across female age-class conditions for 6 days. The males switched to the adult female flocks increased the number of improvised elements in their vocal repertoires. Analysis of the sequences of female–male social contact revealed that juvenile females, but not adult females, interacted indiscriminately with the males. Social network measures such as betweenness and closeness centrality further showed that adult females are more selective in their interactions with males than juvenile females. This study suggests a systemic role for selective social behaviour in shaping male vocal development.

Integration Within a Transgender Social Network and Its Effect upon Members' Socialand Political Activity

The purpose of this study is to examine the male to female transgender social networks and how they influence social and political activity. Four Transgender organizations within Northeast Ohio were contacted for this study. Members were asked to complete a questionnaire and to mail it back. Few of the network elements were useful in predicting social and political activity. Network size has a positive effect upon a person's social and political activity, as did meeting attendance. This study suggests the importance of social networks for Trans-people.

Female Monasticism and Family Strategy: The Guises and Saint Pierre de Reims

This article argues for the existence of female social networks, which were centered around abbeys and which can be viewed as a female dimension to male patron-client networks. This female dimension forces some reevaluation of the nature of male patron-client networks away from the model of power structures towards a function of noble society. A study of the nuns who resided at the abbey of Saint Pierre de Reims, which was headed by a member of the Guise family, shows an expansive and interwoven network of women, both kinship and affinity, occupying the same physical space or communicating with each other. It also shows that a member of a noble family who was assigned to a church career had a valuable and significant role to play in family strategies and dynastic planning.

Social network patterns among the elderly in relation to their perceived life history in an Eriksonian perspective

Past research has shown that social network patterns, the remembered past, and sense of coherence (SOC) are all important factors for well-being in old age. In this study, these interrelationships were examined, with special attention given to the gender differences, concerning structures and functions of the social network. Fifty-eight elderly individuals reported life-history evaluations according to the psychosocial conflicts, proposed by Erik H. Erikson. They also reported social network patterns and SOC according to standardized questionnaires. Factor analyses revealed that there are gender differences concerning the patterns of social network. For women, social anchorage was an important factor, while for men, social influence was more important. Structures and functions of the social network correlated with both positive and negative life history evaluations, but the correlations differed between the sexes. When SOC was controlled the correlations changed, but to a small degree. Stepwise discriminant analyses showed that the male social network patterns were predicted from negative evaluations of the identity period, low scores on the sense of manageability, positive evaluations of the trust/autonomy period and high scores on the sense of comprehensibility. The female social network patterns were predicted from negative evaluations of the trust/autonomy and from the late generativity periods and positive evaluations of the early generativity period. It was hypothesized that structures and functions of the social network are sometimes used as compensation for shortcomings in the internal-based self-concept.

Sex Differential Behavior of Immature Hanuman Langurs (Presbytis entellus) in Ramnagar, South Nepal

We investigated sex differences in the social behavior of immature Hanuman langurs (Presbytis entellus) in the light of sex-specifically different life-courses and Hanuman langur characteristics, such as the individualistic dominance hierarchy and the rarity of intragroup coalitions among adult females. We observed four immature female and four immature male langurs—all members of the same free-ranging multimale multifemale group in Ramnagar, South Nepal—from November 1992 to February 1993 for 288 hr via focal-animal and instantaneous sampling techniques. Immature females spent significantly more time in proximity to other group members than immature males did. They had more physical contact and groomed more. Other immature females were their preferred social partners. Immature males also preferred like-aged females. They restricted their relationships with other immature males to proximity and occasional grooming. Monitoring was directed especially toward adult males. Female behavior can be interpreted as oriented toward integration into the female social network and their age-inverted dominance hierarchy. Males seem to prepare for leaving their natal group and for future strong intrasexual competition.

Early Gothic Saint-Denis: restorations and survivals (review)

Reviews 229 with the subsequent legend of 'The maid of Week' is one example, as is also Anne F. Sutton's retracing of the many roles of Lady Joan Bradbury. Sutton's investigation of the silkwoman Alice Claver, while sketchy concerning her life before widowhood, offers insights into the functioning of female business and social networks. The interest of other chapters lies in their ability to demonstrate the variety of economic and legal activites undertaken by women, such as the essays by Elspeth Veale and Caroline Barron which show widows working in crafts dominated by men. Similarly, those by Stephen O'Connor and Jenny Stratford offer examples of the extensive legal and business responsibilities shouldered by medieval women. Significandy, in some cases the widows studied appear to be overshadowed by their husbands and families, as in Kay Lacey's study of Margaret Croke. However, the essays by Jennifer C. Ward, Helen Bradley, and Carole Rawcliffe offer intimations of how these women perceived their identities. While the life of Margaret Stodeye is presented largely in relation to those of her father and husbands, Rawcliffe's chapter shows clearly how civic politics and marital strategies could intertwine. Readers may suffer from 'will fatigue' reading this volume and disagree with the more optimistic assumptions about the lives of medieval women. For instance, should the expectation that widows' would continue their husbands' businesses after their death be interpreted as an 'opportunity', or as an indicator of women's relative status and freedom? Nonetheless, this collection of essays represents a valuable contribution to our knowledge about medieval women's lives, taking women as historical subjects and showing their range of activity and agency. Stephanie Tarbin Department of History University of Western Australia Blum, Pamela Z., Early Gothic Saint-Denis: restorations and survivals, Berkeley/Los Angeles/London, University of California Press, 1994; paper; pp. xii, 187; 23 monochrome plates, 35 monochrome figures; R.R.P. US$25.00. This is a fascinating book for students or scholars who know generally of the pivotal role of the church of Saint-Denis in the development of the style known as 'Gothic' and want to know more. The title is, however, a misnomer, since Blum is concerned exclusively with the sculpture of the 230 Reviews central western portal of the church. This limited focus is actually a strength, since general discussions of Saint-Denis' architectural innovations are common, whereas precise details of ornamentation are rare. Blum's analysis is refreshingly enthusiastic and easy to follow. Chapter One, 'Saint-Denis in history', reviews the history of the church and the development of the cult of St Denis in France, concentrating on Suger's rebuilding which was dedicated on 9 June 1140. The subsequent damage to the structure due to the Hundred Years' War and the later Wars of Religion is briefly alluded to, and the chapter concludes with the work of eighteenth century antiquarians and the devastation of the church during the French Revolution. The result of this damage was pitiable: 'the church, stripped of its golden altar frontals, costiy altar furnishings, royal regalia, and centuries of accumulated treasure, servedfirstas a temple for the Cult of Reason and subsequendy as a granary. By April 1794 the building had become uninhabitable' (p. 9). Blum's opinion in Chapter Two, 'Nineteenth-century restorations', of the attempts made during the nineteenth century to 'restore' Saint-Denis is highly critical and the chapter reads as a catalogue of complaints. In Chapter Three, 'The great tympanum of the central portal', the book hits its stride and its real value becomes apparent. The writing treads comfortably between highly technical descriptions of details of carving and accessible general comments. The fine illustrations which are at the back of the volume assist the reader in identifying not only which figures are being discussed but also which sections of the figures have been restored and by what techniques. The 'A' plates give the figures and die 'B' plates have the restored areas marked by the author. Sections of the detailed analysis are fascinating. W h o , even amongst those of us who have seen the portal ourselves, has noticed the artist's striving to depict 'individual types' in the...

The nonhuman primate perspective: Old age, kinship and social partners in a monkey society

This paper presents a perspective on the topic of intergenerational relations among nonhuman primate females, reporting on a study of the social manifestations of aging in female Japanese monkeys. Japanese monkeys are representative of many of the well-studied old world monkeys, living in female-bonded societies characterized by the dispersal of natal males. The intergenerational relationships among female kin represent the most fundamental and enduring relationships in the group. The life-time bonds between mothers and daughters are characterized by affiliative behaviors and by mutual support in times of conflict with non-family members. Because kinship bonds persist across the lifecourse, old females do not become socially isolated, nor experience a decrease in social power, nor engage in behavior patterns distinct from those of middleaged or young adults. Changes in female social networks occur within this strong intergenerational female kinship structure: in youth, a female's primary social bond is with her mother; in old age, it is with her daughter.

The newfoundland change of life: Insights into the medicalization of menopause

Critics fault modern medicine for subdividing the process of aging into a series of stages that require medical intervention. This is especially true for middle age and the so-called female climacteric. The extent to which menopause has become medicalized in mainstream Western populations is illustrated by comparing groups of women who have come of age in a tradition of sophisticated medical consumerism to women who have come of age in a more marginal setting, where a combination of geographical isolation and poverty has delayed exposure to medical views of middle aging. Using ethnographic data gathered in a rural Newfoundland fishing village, this article explores the process by which women's notions of menopause as a natural part of the aging process have not yet been undermined by the recent introduction of medical services. Special attention is paid to the positive and negative roles that female social support networks may play in shaping women's experience of menopause.