Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution

In multiple parts of the book, Bohannon asks the question about what makes humans human. What do you think defines what it means to be human? Why?

Pick two of the Eves from the book and compare their traits and how those traits reflect the evolution of female individuals and humanity.

Bohannon dedicates much of the book to debunking myths about female bodies and brains. What are some other myths about female biology that many people believe—or have believed—but have been debunked by science? How have sexism and ignorance about female experiences contributed to these myths?

Bohannon argues that children whose mothers use Motherese have significant advantages over children whose mothers do not use Motherese. Do you agree with this argument? Why or why not?

Bohannon presents the rare human trait of tetrachromacy as a possible evolutionary development that female individuals might bring to humanity. How possible is this? What are some sources supporting or not supporting this theory?

In the final chapter, Bohannon hypothesizes that human cultures became predominately patriarchal as a result of female individuals agreeing to give power to male individuals in exchange for their children’s safety. How likely is this theory? What are other events in early human history that might have led to the switch from matriarchies to patriarchies?

Bohannon reimagines the opening montage in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey to show human evolution from a female perspective rather than a male one. What effect does this have?

Bohannon defines girlhood in the context of female human evolution as a construct of female experiences in sexist societies. How does this definition and exploration of girlhood reflect and hint at the patriarchal switch within human evolutionary history? What are some consequences of this construction of girlhood?