Discovery Channel - The Human Sexes (1997) Part 4 Passages of Life

In THE HUMAN SEXES Desmond Morris, international bestselling author of The Naked Ape and Manwatching, looks at the difference between men and women and investigates how their roles have changed since primitive times. In this series a famous behaviorist shares his original and often startling take on human nature, gender roles, and the equality between men and women that appears our ancestral cultures. The series looks at the relationships between the sexes through history emphasizing cultural practices and rituals rather than biological differences. His research indicates that, contrary to popular belief, our ancient ancestors practised a form of sexual equality and that it was only with the rise of urbanization that the delicate balance of the sexes was disturbed. In many cultures this imbalance has resulted in the exploitation and suppression of women as inferior. In many cultures, including our own, women are still struggling to overcome the legacy of prejudice, both male and female. The biological differences between the sexes have been greatly exaggerated and Desmond Morris explores the hundreds of bizarre and often cruel human rites of passage which have been used to underline gender differences and rituals that people undergo to attract mates – from body piercing to tattooing. He turns his highly trained zoological eye on the differences in men and women, comparing different aspects of male and female biology and behaviour. Explore the human sexes and how we interact with each other. From issues such as monogamy, emotional equality, and love, take a detailed look at the human persona as never seen before. Desmond Morris wrote and presented THE HUMAN SEXES for The Learning Channel, six one-hour television programmes on the relationship between men and women examining the sexuality of humanity through biology, psychology and culture. Provocative and original THE HUMAN SEXES is a challenging look at the world's most fascinating debate. The series was nominated for Primetime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Non-fiction Series.

Part 4 Passages of Life

Does society treat men and women differently? You may not like the unsettling answers you'll find in Passages Of Life. Compare the way different cultures deal with boys and girls as they grow up. Some believe male circumcision began as an ancient Egyptian snake worship ritual to ensure immortality. In the Middle East, puberty brings a girl her first veil; in Yemen, a boy his first grown-up dagger. Watch young women turned into ladies at an etiquette school in England, and young men turned into killers by the US Marine Corps. Witness a marriage celebration in a small Greek village - where a dowry still makes a difference. Passages Of Life might make you feel better about growing up… or worse.

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