Montagu argued that women are biologically more robust, resilient, and better designed for survival than men, citing genetic factors (the XX vs. XY chromosome pairing).

He argued that women's genetic makeup allowed them to survive better during the evolution from hunter-gatherer to technological society.

Writing in the 1950s, Montagu’s arguments were used to support traditional gender roles in a Cold War context, arguing that women's role as the anchor of the family was a defense against societal breakdown.

" The Natural Superiority of Women " is a seminal 1953 book (and earlier 1952 article) written by British-American anthropologist Ashley Montagu. The work argues from a biological and anthropological perspective that women are naturally superior to men. Core Arguments & Themes