Bitch

A revolutionary guide to sex, evolution & the female animal.

Mother. Daughter. Ruler. Provider. What does it mean to be female?
The female species has never been more scrutinized or politicized. As we search to define our gender, combat prejudice, and celebrate the myriad of femininity - what can the animal kingdom teach us about its true nature?

In Bitch, award winning zoologist, broadcaster and author Lucy Cooke, takes the reader on a global journey to meet the animals and scientists that are helping to redefine female species and release it from the shackles of stereotype. Lucy will present us with a dazzling portrait of the female, introducing us to polyamorous chimps, alpha-female hyenas, menopausal killer whales and lesbian lizards. By showing us the spectrum of the species, she sets out to re-write the evolutionary labels that have come to define a gender and propose a new understanding of what it means to be female today.

"Rich and compelling."
Sue Perkins

"Deeply important."
Alice Roberts

Introduction
The Anarchy of Sex
The Mysteries of Mate Choice
The Monogamy Myth
Fifty Ways to Eat Your Lover
Love Is a Battlefield
Madonna No More
Bitch Eat Bitch
Primate Politics
Matriarchs and Menopause
Sisters Are Doing it for Themselves
Beyond the Binary
Conclusion: A Natural World Without Prejudice
Acknowledgements
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index