The purpose of this study is to investigate the implications of excluding the skeletal morphology... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the implications of excluding the skeletal morphology of sexual minorities such as intersex and trans individuals in forensic and medical context. This study took place over a span of 16 months from 2021-2023. Anthropologists' reliance on binaries to categorize humans and as a result, the skeletal morphology of sexual minorities is not considered in forensic and medical contexts. Forensic anthropologists rely on sex estimation methodology to identify skeletal remains. Sex estimation methodology as developed with skeletal data from cisgender males and females without considering morphology of sexual minorities such as intersex individuals. In other words the methodology that is relied upon by forensic anthropologists to diagnose sex will not work on all populations. Sex estimation methodology was developed with skeletal data of known males, the categorical systems that anthropologists rely on today the DEI efforts of universities in response to an overrepresentation of white academics in the field, sexism, homophobia, and white supremacy can still be observed in anthropology today. Researchers are aware that sexual variation exists in humans, but little has been done to integrate the sexual morphology of sexual minorities into forensic developments, such as biological profiles, which aid in forensic anthropologists in the identification of badly decomposed remains. Anthropologists are currently developing sex estimation. Anthropologists have begun to address the lack of representation of sexual minorities in skeletal collections by developing population specific sex estimation methodology, and investigating cultural norms that could contribute to skeletal variation such as castration. Individuals housed in the Osteology lab in the Anthropology Department of Western Washington University were measured. The raw data was run through statistical analysis software R to observe statistical differences. A keyword search and meta-analysis was conducted. They keywords pertained to forensic methodology and gender. The only measurement that was statistically different between male and female individuals was the obturator foramen. The obturator foramen is a skeletal feature not traditionally used in sex estimation. The obturator foramen has been used in conjunctions with other skeletal material, such as irregular bones and teeth, which are also not traditionally used in sex estimation. When used in conjunction with each other, the obturator foramen and irregular bones have yielded a high success rate in sex estimation. This work advances the field of forensic anthropology by spotlighting the impact of relying on antiquated categorical systems that were created by transphobic, white supremacists as well as making recommendations regarding DEI best practices and queering anthropology. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without Dr. Tesla Monson's guidance and patience. I would also like to thank my committee members, Senior Instructor Aly Rollins and Dr. Sean Bruna for getting my edits back to me expeditiously despite short deadlines. A very special thank you to Dr. Kirsten Jenkins. I would not have gotten into graduate school with you. Many thanks to my cohort and student colleagues I have met along my academic journey. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables and Figures .
Dietary adaptations specific to the premolar row remain largely undocumented across primates. Thi... more Dietary adaptations specific to the premolar row remain largely undocumented across primates. This study examines how relative premolar size varies among broad dietary groups (i.e., folivores, frugivores, insectivores, hard-object feeders) using a phylogenetically and ecologically diverse sample of species. We quantified relative premolar size with shape ratios computed using mandibular length, body mass, palate area, and M area to evaluate hypotheses that link variation in relative premolar size to differences in tooth loading, energy requirements, the probability of tooth-food-tooth contact during mastication, and shifts in preferred bite point. Our results revealed the following dietary signals. First, primate folivores have large premolar rows relative to palate area in comparison to frugivores and insectivores. This contrast is consistent with the hypothesis that folivores require large postcanine teeth relative to the size of the oral cavity to increase the probability of part...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the implications of excluding the skeletal morphology... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the implications of excluding the skeletal morphology of sexual minorities such as intersex and trans individuals in forensic and medical context. This study took place over a span of 16 months from 2021-2023. Anthropologists' reliance on binaries to categorize humans and as a result, the skeletal morphology of sexual minorities is not considered in forensic and medical contexts. Forensic anthropologists rely on sex estimation methodology to identify skeletal remains. Sex estimation methodology as developed with skeletal data from cisgender males and females without considering morphology of sexual minorities such as intersex individuals. In other words the methodology that is relied upon by forensic anthropologists to diagnose sex will not work on all populations. Sex estimation methodology was developed with skeletal data of known males, the categorical systems that anthropologists rely on today the DEI efforts of universities in response to an overrepresentation of white academics in the field, sexism, homophobia, and white supremacy can still be observed in anthropology today. Researchers are aware that sexual variation exists in humans, but little has been done to integrate the sexual morphology of sexual minorities into forensic developments, such as biological profiles, which aid in forensic anthropologists in the identification of badly decomposed remains. Anthropologists are currently developing sex estimation. Anthropologists have begun to address the lack of representation of sexual minorities in skeletal collections by developing population specific sex estimation methodology, and investigating cultural norms that could contribute to skeletal variation such as castration. Individuals housed in the Osteology lab in the Anthropology Department of Western Washington University were measured. The raw data was run through statistical analysis software R to observe statistical differences. A keyword search and meta-analysis was conducted. They keywords pertained to forensic methodology and gender. The only measurement that was statistically different between male and female individuals was the obturator foramen. The obturator foramen is a skeletal feature not traditionally used in sex estimation. The obturator foramen has been used in conjunctions with other skeletal material, such as irregular bones and teeth, which are also not traditionally used in sex estimation. When used in conjunction with each other, the obturator foramen and irregular bones have yielded a high success rate in sex estimation. This work advances the field of forensic anthropology by spotlighting the impact of relying on antiquated categorical systems that were created by transphobic, white supremacists as well as making recommendations regarding DEI best practices and queering anthropology. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without Dr. Tesla Monson's guidance and patience. I would also like to thank my committee members, Senior Instructor Aly Rollins and Dr. Sean Bruna for getting my edits back to me expeditiously despite short deadlines. A very special thank you to Dr. Kirsten Jenkins. I would not have gotten into graduate school with you. Many thanks to my cohort and student colleagues I have met along my academic journey. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables and Figures .
Dietary adaptations specific to the premolar row remain largely undocumented across primates. Thi... more Dietary adaptations specific to the premolar row remain largely undocumented across primates. This study examines how relative premolar size varies among broad dietary groups (i.e., folivores, frugivores, insectivores, hard-object feeders) using a phylogenetically and ecologically diverse sample of species. We quantified relative premolar size with shape ratios computed using mandibular length, body mass, palate area, and M area to evaluate hypotheses that link variation in relative premolar size to differences in tooth loading, energy requirements, the probability of tooth-food-tooth contact during mastication, and shifts in preferred bite point. Our results revealed the following dietary signals. First, primate folivores have large premolar rows relative to palate area in comparison to frugivores and insectivores. This contrast is consistent with the hypothesis that folivores require large postcanine teeth relative to the size of the oral cavity to increase the probability of part...
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