Why have men evolved to be hairier than women?

Question

It can't be to do with keeping warm, can it? Because that would mean that men all evolved in a colder climate than women. It just doesn't make sense.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

You obviously haven't seen my wife.

Answer 2

You are confused. Initially, men went outside hunting and what-have-you for most of the day. Women stayed in the caves. Outside is colder than caves so...hair.

Answer 3

hair is a side effect of testosterone production and nothing to do with chales darwin

Answer 4

This: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ape_hypothesis might explain it. According to the aquatic ape theory, humans lost their hair because they spent lots of time in water.

For their safety, women stayed in deeper water. Therefore, women lost more hair (I don't know how losing hair could help survival in water).

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ape_hypothesis

Answer 5

Thats exactly right, it does not make sense, bneither does the whole theory of evolution. Hence the fact it is only a theory.

Answer 6

hormones

Answer 7

All males have X Y chromosomes and all females have X X chromosomes (double crossed?) which causes the males to have more male hormones than females and less female hormones than females. The excess male hormones causes hairs (initially identical in both sexes) to grow differently in the sexes. Castrated males (choir boys of long ago) did not grow bald and most women do not grow bald due to less male hormones. Both sexes do have male and female hormones but the relative levels are different. Perhaps this had a survival value (evolution) otherwise the reverse might be true.

Answer 8

It's not an adaptative change!

:-)
Ciao

Answer 9

In most species of animals, the male is more colorful, more intense in color or pattern of fur or skin. Just look as birds. The male cardinal is vivid red. The female is more drab, less colorful. This allows her to blend in better with the environment, so she is more likely to successfully lay eggs and not get eaten by predators. Also, in most bird species, the male is the primary food gatherer (though by no means the only one; the female does her share, also). As harsh as it sounds, if the male is killed because of his brighter colors, or more obvious hair or fur, from an evolutionary point of view, there is less "loss" than if the female dies. She gives life and usually protects the young. So, if she dies, the hatchlings are more likely to die, also. I would think this same rule applies to humans, as it does in other monkey and ape species.

Answer 10

i think its because men have a higher metabolism rate than women which means they release more energy .Releasing energy creates heat and this is where the hair comes in . Hair is needed during perspiration and helps in themo_regulation.The pores of the hairs act as air vents and they also release water in the form of sweat . In general ( hair keeps the body cool ).

Source(s):

I JUST KNOW

Answer 11

Well hair has to do with the following:
1. The amount of testosterone in your body (hence, males have much more)
2. How sensitive your hair follicles are to testosterone (those that are not sensitive don't produce much hair--ie. Asiand people)

Answer 12

Nair