Verified by 
Evolutionary Psychology
Feminism and Evolutionary Psychology: Complementary
The Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society
Posted May 22, 2013
Between 2007 and 2010, along with a group of extraordinary, innovative, and intrepid scholars, I was extremely fortunate to help move the field of Evolutionary Psychology forward by serving as founding president of the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society (NEEPS).This society, with its affiliate journal, the Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology (JSEC), has led to several extraordinary products that have helped connect Darwin's big vision with the modern behavioral sciences. And, ultimately, to help us understand who we are.
An awesome product of NEEPS has been the Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society (FEPS), which, since its inception in 2009, has helped connect the power of evolutionary science with the power of academic feminist perspectives. As evidence of the success of FEPS, consider the new book, Evolution's Empress, edited by some of the core members of FEPS (Maryanne Fisher, Justin Garcia, and Rosemarie Sokol Chang), and published by (perhaps) the world's most respected academic publisher - Oxford University Press.
A modified version of my original blog on the creation of FEPS is found below. Enjoy.
The Launching of the Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society: FEPS
Kramare and Treichler (1996): “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.”
Geher (2009): “Evolutionary psychology is the radical notion that human behavior is part of the natural world.”
There is no reason on earth to believe that these two “radical” notions are irreconcilable.
I am glad to say that an important and growing intellectual movement is in the works - and has been since 2009. The Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society (FEPS) was borne of discussions at the meeting of the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society (NEEPS) in Oswego, New York. Apparently, the NEEPS meetings are about more than intensive academic sessions, world-class keynote speakers, wiffle ball, and parties on the beach.
Believe it or not, most evolutionary psychologists I know are exceptionally “progressive” in their politics. I quote the word “progressive,” as I feel bad for folks who are not considered “progressive” by those who are self-proclaimed in their “progressivity” – seems like kind of a bad thing to be “non-progressive.” In fact, “non-progressive” almost sounds fully synonymous with “stupid.” But I digress.
“Progressive” means more than “secular democrat” or “liberal.” The moniker has a clear connotation regarding action. Those who consider themselves “progressive,” as far as I can tell, proactively work to uphold various important social values. Someone who is “progressive” not only is against racism, sexism, and unjust wars that kill thousands – he or she also has a sense of obligation to shape the world to be less racist, sexist, and unjust.
Evolutionary psychology has proven to be extremely controversial – often, as I’ve stated in prior work (Geher, 2006), perceived as some sort of conservative conspiracy designed to keep the gender-based status quo. This somewhat-common portrait of evolutionary psychology is inherently “non-progressive.”
In fact, evolutionary psychology is, at its core, an approach to understanding human behavior using evolutionary theory – arguably the single-most-influential theory that has existed in the history of science – as a guide. The idea of understanding human behavior in light of evolutionary forces is not inherently conservative, sexist, or evil – not even close. Trying to understand who we are by employing the most powerful theory that exists within the life sciences actually seems pretty smart when you think about it.
A recent examination of the political attitudes of psychologists who label themselves as “evolutionary psychologists” versus other psychologists tells an interesting story. In an article published in Human Nature in 2007, Josh Tybur, Geoffrey Miller, and Steve Gangestad reported that evolutionary psychologists are every bit as left-leaning and “progressive” as non-evolutionary psychologists – being just as likely to affiliate with the democratic party – and being no more likely than others to have voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. While folks from the conservative right are likely not at all surprised by these data (after all, isn’t that whole theory of evolution an anti-religious New York liberal thing?), I bet “progressive” folks on the far left may well be.
As David Sloan Wilson (2009) tells us, evolutionary psychologists need to reclaim our field. The term “evolutionary psychology” has often been yoked with very specific approaches to human behavior – and has partly become embroiled in politics as a result. While I don’t think any of these approaches is inherently sexist, it will definitely serve future scholars well to take a more open approach to understanding how evolution underlies human behavior. According to David – with whom I agree strongly on this issue – evolutionary psychologists would benefit from being open to non-modularist approaches that take seriously the fact of cultural evolution.
When Rosemarie Chang, EvoS president, came to me during the NEEPS conference to ask if I’d be up for joining a new organization called FEPS, I was immediately on board. So were many attendees at NEEPS 09. It turns out that evolutionary psychologists are not only typically liberal and feminist in their politics – they’re also “progressive” – and the birth of FEPS demonstrates this point strongly.
What will come of FEPS? I’m not sure. But given the intellectual strength of folks who are primarily responsible for forming this new society – including Alice Andrews, Rebecca Burch, Rosemarie Chang, Maryanne Fisher, Leslie Heywood, Dan Kruger, Kaja Perina, Sarah Strout, and many others – I have little doubt that great things are to follow. And, in fact, the recent publication of Evolution's Empress fully substantiates this optimism.
Can insights from evolutionary psychology help reduce unfair sexist policies and actions? Can insights from evolutionary psychology help lead to a world that empowers people regardless of gender? Can my field of evolutionary psychology make my daughter Megan’s world a better and brighter place? You know what I think.
The next official meeting of FEPS will take place as something of a pre-conference meeting to the next meeting of NEEPS – slated to take place in Annville, PA. Check the NEEPS website (neepsociety.com) for details. Hope to see you there.
Oh – and here’s the URL for the FEPS facebook group – tell your friends:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122502515165
References
----------This post is cross-posted at my EvoS blog, Building Darwin's Bridges----------
