Living Like Bonobos

The Bonobo is a species of ape also known as the Pygmy or Dwarf Champanzee. Their scientific name is Pan paniscus. The species walks upright, has a matriarchal culture, and has a society built around the important role of sexual activity. They are the closest genetic relatives to humans, even more so than the common chimpanzee.

Bonobo society is built around sex. Many social situations are initiated or resolved with sex. For instance, if the troop finds a new food source, often the whole troop will engage in what amounts to an orgy before partaking of the bounty. This seems to alleviate conflicts over who gets to eat first, etc.

Some sexual behaviors observed in Bonobos:

• Sex as Greeting
• Conflict Resolution (distraction and tension release)
• Post-Conflict Reconciliation (makeup sex)
• Sex for Group Bonding
• Barter sex for food
• Recreational sex

Bonobos also have a wide variety of sexual expression. They are one of only a few species that mate face-to-face (including humans and dolphins). The following sex acts have been observed in wild populations:

• Masturbation
• Tongue kissing (i.e. French kissing)
• Hand manipulation of sex organs
• Mutual masturbation
• Oral sex
• Face-to-face sex (only dolphins, bonobos, and man do this)
• (except Mother-Son)
• Same-gender sex
• Group sex

Other interesting aspects of Bonobo society:

• Males stay in the same troop throughout their life. No mobility between troops.
• Females leave the troop to join another troop when they mature sexually. They have sex with the top females to gain entry to the troop, and then have sex with every male member until they give birth. Then they are considered full-fledged members of the troop.
• No permanent relationships, except Mother-Son bond.
• Troops are run by the females. Males look to their mothers throughout life.
• Females are almost always ready for sex. Not dependent on estrus.
• No nuclear family. Females raise young.
• Females give birth about every five years. It takes two years before children are fending for themselves, but they remain close to the mother until around five. Males always maintain close ties to their mothers.

This alternative history proposes that human behavior emulates Bonobo behavior, instead of the more violent chimpanzee behavior.

(Author's Note: I've started a tip jar over at Ko-Fi. Drop-in and say hi!)