2008 Woodie Awards
The Male Mating Call: Does size matter?
Christina Liciaga
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: Life!
- Page 1 of 2 next >
In honor of men who endured last week's woman focused column, this week is a tribute to male genitalia. Societal obsession with men's penis size has been ever apparent: both in the grand scheme of things, as well as in smaller intricacies. In fact, we've developed congratulatory phrases, "it's all tank, no sink" as well as comforting slogans, "it's not the size of the ship, it's the motion of the ocean," to help negotiate the relation of male genitalia to sex.
Amidst the many comments that exist about the size of male genitalia is a remark I received by a male sophomore concerning last week's column: "you've got bigger balls than me." The statement was meant to spawn sentiments of courage and bravery; it was a tribute. Although this has become a colloquial phrase, I had never given it much thought, i.e. why does "bigger balls" mean? Better? Stronger? More potent?
According to an article in the Chicago Chronicle published this past fall, larger testes enabled males to produce more sperm and remain sexually competitive in a polyandrous species--the mating of one female with more than one male. So in effect, "bigger balls" are only considered "better" when females are promiscuous (in its most basic definition), as well as selective.
The article also pointed to a study led by Bruce Lahn, published in Nature Genetics in December 2004, which established that "a protein controlling semen viscosity evolves more rapidly in primate species with promiscuous females than in monogamous species." This molecular sexual competition answers my question of potency. According to the study, in extreme cases, the semen is so viscous that it creates a "molecular chastity belt" in the vagina, preventing both semen backflow and the fertilization by subsequent suitors. It seems that despite our social efforts to revoke men's claim on women, genetically, it's still possible--in extreme cases.
In more normative experiences, men are consistently fighting for the attention and affections of women, so that "bigger balls" is a sort of mating call. This is increasingly evident in our sporting events. In the Superbowl on Sunday, New England and Philadelphia players were suited in shoulder pads, jerseys and tight spandex pants covering custom-made cups. The exaggeration of the genital area is an apparent sexual apprehension, evident not only in football, but in baseball, wrestling, swimming and the early days of basketball and soccer.
Amidst the many comments that exist about the size of male genitalia is a remark I received by a male sophomore concerning last week's column: "you've got bigger balls than me." The statement was meant to spawn sentiments of courage and bravery; it was a tribute. Although this has become a colloquial phrase, I had never given it much thought, i.e. why does "bigger balls" mean? Better? Stronger? More potent?
According to an article in the Chicago Chronicle published this past fall, larger testes enabled males to produce more sperm and remain sexually competitive in a polyandrous species--the mating of one female with more than one male. So in effect, "bigger balls" are only considered "better" when females are promiscuous (in its most basic definition), as well as selective.
The article also pointed to a study led by Bruce Lahn, published in Nature Genetics in December 2004, which established that "a protein controlling semen viscosity evolves more rapidly in primate species with promiscuous females than in monogamous species." This molecular sexual competition answers my question of potency. According to the study, in extreme cases, the semen is so viscous that it creates a "molecular chastity belt" in the vagina, preventing both semen backflow and the fertilization by subsequent suitors. It seems that despite our social efforts to revoke men's claim on women, genetically, it's still possible--in extreme cases.
In more normative experiences, men are consistently fighting for the attention and affections of women, so that "bigger balls" is a sort of mating call. This is increasingly evident in our sporting events. In the Superbowl on Sunday, New England and Philadelphia players were suited in shoulder pads, jerseys and tight spandex pants covering custom-made cups. The exaggeration of the genital area is an apparent sexual apprehension, evident not only in football, but in baseball, wrestling, swimming and the early days of basketball and soccer.