Why do clitoris-owners have orgasms? Book and Book Review – “The Case of Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution”

Many aspects of orgasm experienced by clitoris-owners are debated, even the very reason that the clitoris-owner orgasm exists from an evolutionary standpoint. Elisabeth A Lloyd’s (2005) book The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution shines light on this debate and discusses bias in the popular evolutionary hypotheses of the clitoris-owner orgasm from a feminist lens (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674022461&content=reviews). I will refer to a review by Hiram Caton, who summarizes Lloyd’s book well.

For a critical perspective of the book, check out 1-star and 2-star Amazon reviews: https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0674022467/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar. Many criticisms are that Lloyd fails to demonstrate conclusively that there are no adaptation values for the big O, such as happiness, psychological health, etc.

EVOLUTIONARY HYPOTHESES OF THE CLITORIS-OWNER ORGASM

In the book, Lloyd examined about 20 hypothesizes and concluded that none satisfy the evidential criteria of proof of adaptation. The questions still remain unanswered: “Is the female orgasm an adaptation, selected because of its contribution to reproductive advantage? Or is it, like the male nipple, fitness neutral?” (Caton, p. 181).

Lloyd mentions two popular evolutionary theories, which they believe do not suffice as proof of adaptation.

• Pair bonding hypothesis – According to the long-term pair bonding hypothesis, a clitoris-owner’s orgasm functions to increase the clitoris-owners commitment to their relationship by increasing emotional bonding with their presumed penis-owner partner. Heteronormativity aside, this hypothesis is androcentric, supposes male dominance, and more closely reflects sexological relationships and the lack thereof in contemporary society. I can also sense the stereotype that clitoris-owners are more emotional in bed. I agree with Caton when they write, “I am persuaded that the female orgasm is probably a developmental byproduct and that the pair bond interpretation should not be promoted as if it were established science” (Caton, 181). Perhaps it’s just a happy accident like the nipples of penis-owners.

• Up-suck hypothesis – The up-suck hypothesis states that the uterine contractions associated with orgasm in clitoris-owners is intended to facilitate the movement of semen in an effort to increase fertility. It is hypothesized that sperm retention would depend on whether or not a clitoris-owner had an orgasm and when the orgasm occurred (before, during, or after sex). This assumes that the penis-owner who is best at giving orgasms succeeds at impregnation of the clitoris-owner and that the most orgasmic clitoris-owners are the most fertile. Do they not consider the possibility of the clitoris-owner provides themselves an orgasm regardless of how “fit” the penis-owner is? This also assumes orgasm is occurring during penetration without clitoral stimulation, which statistically rarely occurs in many clitoris-owners. However, there is little proof of association between orgasm and fertility in humans (Caton, p. 182). The hypothesis is drawn from an analogy to sperm manipulation of female insects who may selectively retain sperm from different males. (See page 296 http://www.cbs.umn.edu/sites/cbs.umn.edu/files/public/downloads/2006ZukPerspecBioMed.pdf . They also mention Lloyd’s work.) There is currently non-conclusive evidence that orgasm increases sperm competition (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087695/). 

WHAT ARE THE BIASES BEHIND THESE THEORIES ACCORDING TO LLOYD?

“A major bias is that female orgasm is, or ought to be, like the male orgasm. When it is not, the absence is styled ‘dysfunctional’” (Caton, p. 181)     

“The bias figures prominently in male expectations of their marital partners, who conciliate their men by prosocial deceptions such as faked orgasm” (Caton, p. 181)       

“[O]rgasm is linked to female reproductive success” (Caton, p. 182)       

“[O]nly orgasms occurring during coitus are relevant” (Caton, p. 182)      

“[A]nother is that sexual response in nonhuman primates is determined by hormones and that nonhuman primates do not experience orgasm” (Caton, p. 182-183) 

DISCUSSION 

When you think about the hypotheses of the evolutionary purpose of the clitoris-owner orgasm, which first comes to mind and why?