United They Stand: How Female Bonobos Flip the Script on Power

 In the lush, remote jungles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a quiet revolution is taking place—one that challenges long-standing assumptions about dominance, strength, and social order in the animal kingdom. Among wild bonobos, our close primate relatives, it’s not the bigger, stronger males who call the shots. It’s the females—and they’ve found power not through force, but through unity.

A recent groundbreaking study by an international team of primatologists, including Martin Surbeck from Harvard University and Barbara Fruth of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, has shed new light on the curious case of bonobo society. Drawing on 30 years of observations from six wild bonobo communities, the researchers have uncovered compelling evidence that female bonobos maintain social dominance over males by banding together in alliances. This form of female solidarity—remarkable in the animal world—effectively inverts the typical male-biased power structure seen in most mammalian societies.

The Bonobo Paradox

At first glance, bonobo society is puzzling. Male bonobos are larger, physically stronger, and—on paper—should hold the upper hand in conflicts over food, mating rights, and group leadership. In most other primate species, especially chimpanzees (their closest relatives), that’s exactly how it plays out. Males dominate through aggression, control valuable resources, and determine the social hierarchy.

But not so with bonobos.

In bonobo communities, it is the females who dominate mating choices. It’s the females who sit calmly on the ground, eating from prized food sources, while males wait their turn in the trees. And when conflicts arise, it’s often the females who come out on top.

How is that possible?

A Sisterhood Strategy

The answer, according to the new study published in Current Biology, lies in coalition-building. Female bonobos, the researchers discovered, routinely form alliances with one another—what the study terms “coalitions”—to support each other during conflicts with males. These coalitions tip the scales, allowing females to collectively overpower even physically superior males.

From a total of 1,786 documented male-female conflicts in the wild, 1,099 were won by females—a striking 61.6%. Even more telling, 85% of the female coalitions observed were directed against males, clearly shaping the group’s social structure. In other words, bonobo females wield influence not alone, but as a unified front.

“Female solidarity is the key,” says Surbeck, the study’s lead author. “Bonobos are showing us that strength doesn’t always come from size—it can come from social support.”

Power Without Violence

This form of female empowerment is also notable for what it lacks—violence. Bonobo societies are famously peaceful compared to chimpanzees. Conflicts are resolved more often through gestures of reconciliation than through bloodshed, and sexual behavior often plays a role in diffusing tensions.

Female bonobos, in particular, are adept at maintaining strong social bonds through grooming, shared food access, and mutual support. One iconic gesture observed in the wild—two females clasping hands while grooming—symbolizes this close-knit sisterhood. It’s a form of connection that extends beyond mere affection; it’s the foundation of their power.

By sticking together, females create a buffer against male aggression. Males, despite their strength, are unlikely to challenge a group of females who will immediately back each other up. This collective defense not only deters male dominance but also gives females greater agency in group decision-making.

Rewriting the Rules of Power

The implications of this study go far beyond the bonobo jungle. In the natural world, and particularly in mammals, male dominance has often been seen as the default setting. Larger males use physical power to monopolize mates and food, while females compete quietly for resources and care for offspring.

But bonobos show us an alternative—a society where females lead, not through brute force but through cooperation, trust, and mutual support. The study suggests that when females are able to form stable alliances, they can challenge the usual social order and create a more egalitarian structure.

“This is the first empirical evidence that female solidarity can overturn traditional male-dominated hierarchies,” says Fruth, who has led the LuiKotale Bonobo Project for three decades. “It’s a powerful reminder of what social cooperation can achieve.”

The Ecology of Empowerment

There may be environmental reasons behind this unique social structure. Bonobos inhabit a region of the Congo Basin that is rich in food resources. Unlike chimpanzees, who often compete fiercely for limited food, bonobos have more abundant access to fruit and other vegetation. This abundance reduces direct competition and allows for more relaxed social interactions—fertile ground for female bonding.

It’s also possible that bonobo mothers play a key role. In some cases, mothers have been observed supporting their sons during social disputes or mating efforts, which might give rise to complex family alliances. But overwhelmingly, it is female-female relationships that determine the balance of power.

Lessons From Our Primate Cousins

Bonobos are one of our closest living relatives, sharing more than 98% of our DNA. As such, their behavior offers intriguing insights into the evolution of human social systems. If female cooperation can lead to peaceful, balanced societies among bonobos, might the same apply to early human groups?

While human societies are infinitely more complex, the principle remains striking: unity creates power. Whether in primate troops or modern communities, social bonds can be a stronger force than physical might.

As researchers continue to observe and learn from wild bonobo groups, one thing is clear: the story of dominance, leadership, and social order is far from one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, the most unexpected outcomes emerge—not from dominance or aggression—but from friendship, solidarity, and shared strength.

In the end, the bonobo lesson may be as simple as this: stick together, and you can change everything.