This work investigates the biological and social underpinnings of female dominance structures within human and primate societies. Lionel Tiger, a prominent anthropologist known for his work on male bonding, applies an evolutionary lens to examine how women organize power, influence, and status. The text argues that female hierarchies are distinct from male models, shaped by different reproductive strategies and social imperatives, and provides a framework for understanding the persistence of these structures in modern organizational settings.

Scholars in the field of evolutionary anthropology frequently cite this text for its provocative approach to gendered social dynamics. Readers often note the academic density of the prose and the author's reliance on biological determinism as a primary analytical tool.