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Abstract:

Females are not competitive. Competition, conflicts and dominance are part of a man’s world, at least that was the view of Charles Darwin. Animal girlpower did not fit within the classical sexual competition theory. But anyone who looks around in his or her circle of friends, knows that “anomalous females” do exist. Slowly, surprising findings are accumulating on competitive females - albeit bonobos, bison, zebras or baboons – and the accompanying fitness benefits. This knowledge can help us to better understand what a woman’s life is all about. Hilde Vervaecke holds a PhD in behavioural biology. She studied sexual competition and dominance relationships in female bonobos and American bison. Now she is teaching and researching at the group of Agro- and Biotechnology at the University College KAHO in Sint-Niklaas.