Seson 5 Episode 3 - Variable Vaginas and Punchable Penises

We continue our discussion of Lucy Cooke's book entitled Bitch: On the female of the species focusing on chapters 5 & 6 which covered variation in female genitalia, the evolution of the human penis,  and maternal care. We spent some time talking about the baculum, a bone that is found in the penis of many mammals, but not in humans. Sarah described how intricately shaped the baculum of squirrels can be, as evident in the image below. 

From Bacula of North American Mammals by W. H. Burt, 1960

Sarah also discussed a novel hypothesis presented by Jakovlic'  that proposes and explanation for the loss of human baculum through male-male aggression. James wondered why human copulation lasts so long? What is the point of all that thrusting for minutes on end?  We explored a couple of hypothesis that have been proposed to explain the exuberant level of pelvic thrusting typical in human copulation. 

James encouraged our listeners to look at the NSFW artwork of Jamie McCartney, a sculpture and photographer who has created a large portfolio of casts of penises and vaginas, and other secondary sexual characteristics, which clearly represent the variability in human genitalia. 

The second part of the podcast explored the myth of maternal care and how opposing neurological process can explain aggression towards babies or care and protection of babies. We explored how these process could help explain post-partum depression and how the modern medical process in child birth may interfere with the evolved bonding process that requires specific tactile, auditory, and olfactory cues shared between the mother and newborn. 

Opening and closing music is "May" by Jared C. Balogh.

Interlude music was Detachable Penis from King Missile.