Temporal orders and Y chromosome futures: of mice, monkeys, and men

We bring together conceptual readings of time and temporality to discuss evolutionary theories of Y chromosome degeneration as they are spoken about in scientific and popular forums. In doing so, we suggest that debates over Y chromosome degeneration involve a form of abduction – tacking back and forth between different pasts, presents, futures – that frames templates for producing and securing sexed and gendered presents. Here we are using ‘sexed’ as a way of talking about physical bodies and ‘gendered’ as social ways of constructing those sexed bodies. We suggest that arguments over Y chromosome degeneration are as important for current debates surrounding sex, gender, science, molecular biology and a “crisis of masculinity” as they are for (ascertaining) the future of human evolution.