In Different world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal draws on decades of observation and
studies of both human and animal behavior to argue that despite the linkage between gender and
biological sex biology does not automatically support the traditional gender roles in human
societies. While humans and other primates do share some behavioral differences biology offers
no justification for existing gender inequalities. Using chimpanzees and bonobos to illustrate
this point-two ape relatives that are genetically equally close to humans-de Waal challenges
widely held beliefs about masculinity and femininity and common assumptions about authority
leadership cooperation competition filial bonds and sexual behavior. Chimpanzees are
male-dominated and violent while bonobos are female-dominated and peaceful. In both species
political power needs to be distinguished from physical dominance. Power is not limited to the
males and both sexes show true leadership capacities. Different is a fresh and
thought-provoking approach to the long-running debate about the balance between nature and
nurture and where sex and gender roles fit in. De Waal peppers his discussion with details
from his own life-a Dutch childhood in a family of six boys his marriage to a French woman
with a different orientation toward gender and decades of academic turf wars over outdated
scientific theories that have proven hard to dislodge from public discourse. He discusses
sexual orientation gender identity and the limitations of the gender binary exceptions to
which are also found in other primates. With humor clarity and compassion Different seeks to
broaden the conversation about human gender dynamics by promoting an inclusive model that
embraces differences rather than negating them.
