- When sex means reproduction, certain proclivities may simply not be part of cultural models of sexuality.
I doubt the affirmation that "PD" means "Par Derriere" (From Behind).
It's a very frequent insult in french, and I never heard that explanation. It's pronounced "Pédé" in French, and should probably come from "Pédéraste", which share the same etymological roots with pedophile : "Pedo" in ancient Greek meaning "boy" or child. So pedophile means "loving young boy" and "pédéraste" has the same meaning and was by extension given to gay male as an insult. And latter on was shortened to "Pédé" then "PD". The "From Behind" may be the way those people understood the word in this part of the world. Nice read either way.
I always wish that there were some comparative stats given along with statements like this. Does homosexual behavior decrease with increased child mortality? Given that there is a genetic basis for homosexuality, in theory it could be selected against if only the most consistently productive of genes were passed on. I have no idea whether or not there's any basis for this, but it's interesting.The purpose of this work is the production of children -- a critical matter in an area with a very high infant mortality rate.
A 'choice', then.Given all this, the Hewletts conclude, "Homosexuality and masturbation are rare or nonexistent [in these two cultures], not because they are frowned upon or punished, but because they are not part of the cultural models of sexuality in either ethnic group."
I doubt it. I didn't choose to speak English, but it happened nonetheless. Perhaps cultural signals can lead to different outcomes irrespective of choice. My guess is that certain individuals are prone to homosexuality, although perhaps not inherently homosexual, and they will develop into gay adults given certain environmental factors. It seems that in this culture, those environmental factors are negligible.