Lately, one of the biggest concerns of some conservative sectors of Western society is the problems that being raised by a child can bring. two fathers or two mothers. However, evolutionarily speaking, the problem is not really that, but whether two people are enough, regardless of gender.
It is the conclusion of a study that has just been published in Developmental Psychologyled by a team of scientists from the University of Cambridge. In it, they analyze the role of caregivers in hunter-gatherer societies.
Currently, this way of life is only maintained in some indigenous tribes. However, it has been the main activity of human beings for more than 95% of our evolutionary history. For this reason, these scientists have considered it interesting to look away from Western societies and countries with more economic power, to focus on those populations that still maintain part of the essence with which we evolved as a species. This has shown that gender, and even kinship, are the least important. Children have possibly evolved to receive caring for more than two people. And that is something that, perhaps, should be taken into account much more.
Two parents are not enough
To carry out this study, its authors monitored the Mbndjele tribewho live in the tropical rainforests of the north of the Republic of Congo. Although they maintain certain commercial agreements with nearby populations, their main way of life is that of hunter-gatherers, which is why they constitute a good example of what the primitive societies.
In the tribe studied there were 18 children between 0 and 4 years old. That is, with an age that requires the constant supervision of an adult. Even though most of them had two parents (a father and a mother), there were many more people looking out for them.
The study authors noted that each child received nine hours of attentive attention on average and about 10 different peoplesometimes up to 20. Furthermore, when a child cried, in less than 25 seconds There were several people willing to assist him. Just in the 50% of crying cases The mother was the first to come. Everyone participated, from the elderly in the community to older teenagers and children.
We are the only species with grandparents
A clear example that children have evolved to need more than two parents is that they rarely actually have only two people at their disposal. Even in Western countries.
The human species It is not the longestbut Yes, the only one in which the figure of the grandfather exists. Perhaps the turtles live many more years, but the parents separate themselves from their children when they are adults, they do not stay to help them. take care of their babies.
On the other hand, in the case of the human species, many studies suggest that, possibly, our life expectancy is due precisely to the importance of the role of grandparents.
If all goes well, we are no longer talking about just the two parents as caregivers. There can be six. If we add uncles and other relatives to that, there are many more people who participate in childcare. And for that to be done efficiently, in reality, blood is the least of it.
Therefore, whether a child grows up with two fathers or two mothers is unimportant. The most relevant thing is that these two people, or one if the case arises, have a support network enough to give the little one the type of care with which we evolved as a species.
If we give importance to minor issues, we will end up diverting attention from the issues that really deserve it.