Gender Roles in Hunter-Gatherer Societies Were More Fluid than We Were Taught
Bias and a lack of advanced technology led to the assumption that specific gender roles are natural, when evidence shows they were anything but.
Researchers, scientists, and archeologists are on a roll lately. New technology and changing social norms are inspiring (and requiring) experts to reevaluate our assumptions and correct past mistakes. One area such transitions are occurring relates to gender. For centuries, our gender bias has created a blind spot for researchers and scientists. As a result, ancient remains found with burial goods, including weapons for hunting or warfare, are mostly assumed to be men. The bias being that only men hunted.
But thanks to technological advancements and changing social norms regarding gender roles, many experts are taking it upon themselves to correct past mistakes. In some cases, that means reanalyzing ancient remains attributed to males to see if they are actually female. While other experts tackle the daunting task of evaluating the role of gender in entire hunter-gatherer societies. So far, only one team of researchers has accomplished such a feat, and it’s a doozy.
