Introduction by Kenny Ausubel, Bioneers Founder

There has long been an intense debate about differences between men and women: Are these differences due predominantly to biology or to culture? Do we find similar differences among our fellow primates? Do apes learn sex roles, too, or is “gender” uniquely human? World-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal is one of the few scientists thoroughly familiar with both of our closest ape relatives: chimpanzees, predominantly male-dominated and prone to violence; and bonobos, female-dominated and far more peaceful. He argues that a distinction between “gender” (cultural) and “sex” (biological) can be very useful in helping us explore the interplay between nature and nurture in human life. He will draw from his groundbreaking new book, DIFFERENT, to offer new insights about the long-running debates about sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the limitations of a strict binary.