Biology on Probation: Response to Fine on Evolutionary Psychology and Feminist Studies
Marc Defant （ Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA ）
https://doi.org/10.37155/2972-3086-0501-10Abstract
I argue that the central issue in Fine’s criticism of my paper is not whether evolutionary psychology has critics or whether feminist scholars have “engaged” biological claims, but whether biological explanations are treated as admissible competitors under symmetric evidentiary standards. I contend that her critique repeatedly narrows biological evidence, emphasizes contestation, and leaves acceptance criteria unspecified, rendering evolutionary explanations perpetually provisional. Meanwhile, social constructionist accounts retain default status without comparable falsification standards. Using examples from biosocial theory debates, developmental endocrinology (prenatal androgen effects), labor economics, and comparative anthropology, I argue that strong social constructionism is scientifically inadequate as a primary causal framework for sex-differentiated interests and outcomes. The paper concludes that “critique without exit conditions” functions as epistemic gatekeeping rather than neutral evaluation.
Keywords
Social construction; patriarchy; radical feminism, pay gapFull Text
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Publishing time:2026-01-29
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