But now it is clear that this is wrong. Females of most species routinely copulate with several different males. At least the editors of Newsweek think so. First, multiple partners provide females with increased resources, such as gifts of food or protection. Second, by shopping around, females seek out males that will provide superior DNA for their offspring.
Female promiscuity is a tool of natural selection for enhancing the gene pool.
As the caption next to the women of Sex and the City states, For women, playing around can bring them more resources, as well as healthier kids. The editors of Newsweek, I suspect, know full well that this notion of female promiscuity has little to do with the single fly, and everything to do with the modern woman. It is telling that the article appears in the Society section, rather than under the heading of Science or Nature. The underlying assertion is that the sexual liberation of women is ordained by nature, while monogamy is the exception to the rule and can be harmful for the species in the long run. Begley appears to believe that revelations of animal infidelity explode the superstition that women desire and benefit from monogamy.