Definition
A form of natural selection that arises from competition for mates and mate choice, often leading to the evolution of elaborate ornaments, weapons, or behaviors that enhance reproductive success.
Etymology
Coined by Charles Darwin in 1871 from Latin 'sexualis' meaning 'of sex' and 'selectio' meaning 'choice'. Darwin needed to explain why traits like peacock tails existed when they seemed to reduce survival - he realized they evolved because they increased mating success.
Kelly Says
Sexual selection explains why male birds are often so flashy while females are drab - it's not about survival, it's about getting a date! The most extreme example might be the male anglerfish, which literally fuses with the female and becomes a permanent sperm-producing appendage.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
性别的ምርጫ
se-te-be-me-r-chia
ARالعربية
التنافس الجنسي
al-tan-a-fas al-jin-si
BNবাংলা
লিঙ্গ নির্বাচন
ling ni-rba-chon
CACatalà
selecció sexual
seh-LEK-syo se-kSU-al
CSČeština
pohlavní výběr
pohlav-nee vee-beer
DADansk
kønslig selektion
koens-lig seh-LEK-syon
DEDeutsch
sexuelle Selektion
zeks-u-elle seh-LEK-syon
ELΕλληνικά
ερωτικός επιλογή
e-ro-tikos e-pi-lo-ghi
ESEspañol
selección sexual
seh-lección se-kSU-al
FAفارسی
انتخاب جنسی
e-n-te-khaab je-ne-see
FISuomi
sukupuolivalinta
suku-puoli-va-lin-ta
FRFrançais
sélection sexuelle
seh-LEK-syon se-kSEL
GUGU
લિંગ પસંદગી
ling pas-n-d-gee
HAHA
kwanciya tsoffi
kwan-chi-ya tsof-fi
HEעברית
בחרות מינית
ba-chrut mi-nit
HIहिन्दी
लैंगिक चयन
lang-ik cha-yan
HUMagyar
nembeli szelekció
nem-be-li seh-LEK-syo
IDBahasa Indonesia
seleksi seksual
seh-LEK-see se-kSU-al
IGIG
ihe dị ka ọnụ
ee-he dee-kee on-oo
ITItaliano
selezione sessuale
seh-LEK-syon se-ZUA-le
KKKK
сексуалды таңдау
se-ksual-dy tan-dau
KMKM
ការជ្រើសរើសភេទ
ka-ar-cheu-s-ro-es-phe-et
KO한국어
성 선택
seong se-ne-chon
MRMR
लिंग निवड
ling ni-vadd
MSBahasa Melayu
pilihan seksual
pee-liaan se-kSU-al
MYမြန်မာ
အစိတ်အမျိုးသုံး စရိုက်
a-seet-a-myo-thu-ng se-r-o-ik
NLNederlands
seksuele selectie
seks-ue-le seh-LEK-tee
NONorsk
kjønnslig seleksjon
kyoens-lig seh-LEK-syon
PLPolski
dobor płciowy
dob-or pL-tsee-woy
PTPortuguês
seleção sexual
seh-LE-syon se-kSU-al
RORomână
selecție sexuală
seh-LEK-syeh se-kSU-la
RUРусский
половой отбор
pa-lo-voy ot-bor
SVSvenska
könslig selektion
koens-lig seh-LEK-syon
SWKiswahili
chaguo la jinsia
cha-guo la jin-see-a
TAதமிழ்
பாலினத் தேர்வு
paalina-th the-r-vu
TEతెలుగు
లింగ ఎంపిక
ling em-pik
THไทย
การคัดเลือกทางเพศ
gaan-kat-lek taang pet
TLTL
pagpili sa sekswal
pa-g-pili sa seks-wal
TRTürkçe
cinsel seçilim
jin-sel seh-chee-lim
UKУкраїнська
статевий відбір
stat-ev-yi vid-bir
URاردو
جنسی انتخاب
jan-see e-na-ba-at
VITiếng Việt
chọn lọc giới tính
chon loc gioi tinh
YOYO
àwọn ìdíẹ̀
awon ee-dee-eh
ZUZU
ukuthula kwesifundo
oo-koo-thoo-la kwee-si-fun-doo
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Darwin's term assumed male-male competition and female choice as universal pattern. Mid-20th century conflated sexual selection with male traits; female-driven selection and sex-role reversal systems were marginalized.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'sexual selection' with awareness it operates via multiple mechanisms: male-male competition, female choice, male choice, cryptic female choice, and sperm competition. No default sex.
Inclusive Alternatives
["intra-sexual competition","inter-sexual choice","mate-choice mechanisms"]
Empowerment Note
Bateman's daughters (Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Patricia Gowaty) overturned the passive-female assumption; their work on female reproductive strategies is foundational to modern sexual selection theory.