... why is it, at least proportionally speaking, supposedly so rare among human beings?
Statistics from field studies have placed the frequency of homosexual mounting at about 1/4 of all mounting in the Common Chimpanzee, with embracing and mouth to mouth kissing constituting a similar fraction. Around about half of all sex between Bonobos is between two members of the same sex (including mutual genital rubbing, G-G rubbing, penis fencing and sometimes anal penetration between males), and female Bonobos actually commit to homosexual sex more often than they do heterosexual sex. Baboons show a similar degree of frequency to Chimpanzees, with 13-24% of all mounting between males. And to negate suggestions that homosexual sex is mere 'power play', affectionate homosexual pair bonding also appears relatively frequently so it seems.
These are just a few statistics I've come across in regard to homosexual interactions among some of our closest primate relatives (Bonobos are supposedly around about equally close to humans as is the Common Chimpanzee). It had me beginning to wonder, why is homosexual activity then so comparatively invisible and less frequent in human society? Does the answer come from differing biology, or social conditioning?
Statistics from field studies have placed the frequency of homosexual mounting at about 1/4 of all mounting in the Common Chimpanzee, with embracing and mouth to mouth kissing constituting a similar fraction. Around about half of all sex between Bonobos is between two members of the same sex (including mutual genital rubbing, G-G rubbing, penis fencing and sometimes anal penetration between males), and female Bonobos actually commit to homosexual sex more often than they do heterosexual sex. Baboons show a similar degree of frequency to Chimpanzees, with 13-24% of all mounting between males. And to negate suggestions that homosexual sex is mere 'power play', affectionate homosexual pair bonding also appears relatively frequently so it seems.
These are just a few statistics I've come across in regard to homosexual interactions among some of our closest primate relatives (Bonobos are supposedly around about equally close to humans as is the Common Chimpanzee). It had me beginning to wonder, why is homosexual activity then so comparatively invisible and less frequent in human society? Does the answer come from differing biology, or social conditioning?
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Given the studies that have shown one-third or more of males have at least one homosexual encounter by the time they're eighteen, and considering the prevalence of homosexual relationships throughout different cultures during different points in the history of our species, I am inclined to say it is probably more a matter of social conditioning than it is a matter of biology.
Look at the Greeks and Romans. Some form of homosexual relationship was the norm in those societies, not the exception. It was considered fashionable for the daimyo and samurai to have a taikomochi (male geisha) as a lover. Many Native American tribes defined homosexual males and females as a different gender of people than heterosexual males and females and saw nothing wrong with their desire to be who they were.
Look at the Greeks and Romans. Some form of homosexual relationship was the norm in those societies, not the exception. It was considered fashionable for the daimyo and samurai to have a taikomochi (male geisha) as a lover. Many Native American tribes defined homosexual males and females as a different gender of people than heterosexual males and females and saw nothing wrong with their desire to be who they were.
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