okay, a yahoo science article says that genetics have:

(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=570&ncid=753&e=1&u=/nm/20041124/sc_nm/science_genes_dc)

"... around 40 percent of the influence on the number of sexual partners and infidelity were due to genetic factors," Professor Tim Spector, director of the Twin Research Unit at St Thomas' Hospital in London, told a news conference.

But he added that environment and upbringing also play a part in explaining the variation in infidelity between women. "

oh my. that would explain some things. But then again, don't actually want to know how many partners my mother has had.

(sorry mom)

and if this goes all the way back to grandma- ick.

the interesting thing about this article to me was that the scientist was quoted as saying:

"The fact that psychosocial traits such as number of sexual partners and infidelity appear to behave as other common complex genetic traits in humans ... lends support to evolutionary psychologists' theories on the origin of human behavior"

Okay, so genetics might influence sexual partners and all that, but does that explain how women tend to want less partners and all that? Or is that really a myth? Maybe women really do want lots of partners but today's society doesn't let us admit it to ourselves? Or maybe lots of other women want (and probably get) lots of partners but just I don't?

it wouldn't be the first time I projected my own values on the world.

But it is interesting food for thought, especially because I read the journal of a polyamorous woman, and currently reading a "how lesbians got the vote for women" book and in light of the recent discussion on MIJ about creationism versus evolutionism. It is strange how such various and disparate topics weave themselves together.

where's a good book club when you need them?