Females are dull. Females are subordinate. Females are shy. Or so we’ve been told. In the animal world, males have long been portrayed as the flamboyant, aggressive, and powerful ones—fighting each other for the right to mate and spread their genes. Darwin and generations of male scientists after him declared this the natural order. But here’s what they didn’t tell us: these scientists were men, and they often saw what they expected—or wanted—to see. Virtuous, obedient females devoted to motherhood and their partners.
Centuries later, women scientists began to challenge this narrative. They asked a groundbreaking question: What if the men were wrong? What do females want, and what role do they truly play in evolution? The answers, as Lucy Cooke shows us, are as fascinating as they are surprising.
From the dominant, pseudo-penis-wielding female spotted hyenas to clownfish that change sex, Cooke takes readers on a scientific journey across continents and species. Along the way, she dismantles long-standing myths and reveals how females are just as powerful and strategic as their male counterparts. They’ve evolved ingenious ways to shape evolution—some use sex to protect their offspring, others collaborate to control aggressive males, and many have defenses against unwanted mating. Their methods may be less dramatic than the male peacock’s feathers or the lion’s roar, but they are no less effective.
As a biologist, I rarely read books about the natural world outside of work. My days are already filled with research on biodiversity and conservation, so it’s not often I pick up a book like this. But when my sister gave it to me, I couldn’t resist—and I’m so glad I didn’t. I had a blast learning about the incredible diversity of female strategies in nature and the pivotal role they play in evolution.
Cooke’s narrative is not only scientifically rich but also laugh-out-loud funny, making complex topics accessible and deeply entertaining. Beyond its humor, the book invites readers to reflect on how much our own perceptions of sex and gender are shaped by cultural biases rather than nature itself.
This is a perfect read for animal lovers, would- and should-be feminists, and anyone curious about the truth behind the stories we tell about males and females. It’s a brilliant reminder that male-female equality isn’t just a human construct—it’s woven into the fabric of the natural world.
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