Hunter-Gatherer Societies Offer Insights Into Gender Equality

A New Perspective on Gender Roles and Cooperation

A recent study published in Evolution and Human Behaviour¹ challenges conventional narratives about gender roles, revealing a surprising level of equality in how work and leisure are shared in hunter-gatherer societies. By examining the Mbendjele BaYaka of Congo and the Agta of the Philippines, researchers uncovered dynamics of cooperation and fairness that contrast sharply with modern industrial and agricultural societies.

The study, led by Angarika Deb of Central European University's Department of Cognitive Science, sheds light on how gender-egalitarian norms influence household decision-making and social interactions in these communities.

Redefining Gender Roles in Small-Scale Societies

Hunter-gatherer societies have long intrigued anthropologists for their seemingly egalitarian social structures. Unlike modern societies, where gender roles are often rigidly defined, these groups tend to exhibit a balance in decision-making power and responsibilities.

Bar chart illustrating the predicted and observed distribution of leisure hours between partners in Agta households, with a marker indicating equal division for comparison. Credit: Evolution and Human Behavior (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2024.05.003

According to Deb, the study highlights that both men and women in these communities enjoy comparable leisure time, challenging the traditional assumption that women bear a disproportionate workload.

"Our findings show that in these hunter-gatherer societies, both men and women contribute significantly to their households, resulting in a fair division of leisure time," Deb explained.

This equality stands in stark contrast to patterns observed in modern agricultural or industrial settings, where women often take on a greater share of domestic responsibilities.

The Role of Social Capital

To understand what drives this balance, the researchers investigated how "social capital"—connections and influence within the community—affects household negotiations. Surprisingly, the study found that social capital had little impact on the division of labor or leisure between genders.

Instead, these communities operate under norms that inherently promote equality. Men and women engage in complementary tasks, each vital to the household and community's survival.

"These societies are well-known for having gender-egalitarian norms, which provide both men and women equal autonomy and decision-making power," Deb noted.

These norms are not only reflected in daily activities but are also actively enforced through social practices, ensuring that no individual consistently dominates or is subjugated.

A Broader Implication for Gender Dynamics

The findings echo themes from Deb’s 2023 literature review, Gender Egalitarianism in Hunter-Gatherers, which examined behaviors and norms that reinforce equality in small-scale societies. The new study builds on this by providing first-hand data and empirical evidence.

"This groundbreaking study provides a fresh perspective on gender relations and suggests that lessons from these egalitarian communities could inform how we arrange gender dynamics in contemporary societies," Deb stated.

The implications are profound: by studying societies that have maintained gender equality for generations, researchers can explore alternative models for addressing disparities in modern contexts.

Conclusion

This research underscores the importance of understanding the social structures of hunter-gatherer communities, not only to gain insights into human evolution but also to consider how their egalitarian norms might inspire change in today's gender dynamics.

By examining the Mbendjele BaYaka and Agta, this study challenges preconceived notions of gender inequality and highlights the potential for more equitable societal structures rooted in cooperation and mutual respect.

Related Research

These studies build upon the concepts of labor division, cooperation, and bargaining dynamics in small-scale societies.

1. Dyble, M., Salali, G. D., Chaudhary, N., Page, A. E., Smith, D., Thompson, J., Vinicius, L., Mace, R., & Migliano, A. B. (2015).
   Sex equality can explain the unique social structure of hunter-gatherer bands.
   Science, 348(6236), 796–798. DOI:10.1126/science.aaa5139
   Examines how sex equality in labor contributions influences the social structure and cooperation within hunter-gatherer bands.

2. Mattison, S. M., Sum, C., & Shenk, M. K. (2021).
   The evolution of inequality.
   Nature Human Behaviour, 5(9), 1195–1205. DOI:10.1038/s41562-021-01134-2
   Explores the development of gendered division of labor and its relationship with social inequalities in early human societies.

3. Wood, B. M., Pontzer, H., Raichlen, D. A., & Marlowe, F. W. (2014).
   Mutualism and trade-off help explain the evolution of human life history.
   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(10), 4134–4139. DOI:10.1073/pnas.1401949111
   Investigates the cooperative division of labor between sexes and its role in extending human life history traits.

4. Gurven, M., Jaeggi, A. V., Kaplan, H., & Cummings, D. (2013).
   Physical activity and modernization among Bolivian Amerindians.
   PLOS ONE, 8(1), e55679. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0055679
   Highlights how traditional gendered labor roles adapt to modernization, with implications for leisure and resource allocation.

5. Kramer, K. L., & Ellison, P. T. (2010).
   Labor division and reproductive success in Pumé women.
   Human Nature, 21(3), 286–300. DOI:10.1007/s12110-010-9090-1
   Explores how gendered labor specialization impacts reproductive strategies and overall success in small-scale societies.

6. Kaplan, H. S., & Hill, K. (1985).
   Food sharing among Ache foragers: Tests of explanatory hypotheses.
   Current Anthropology, 26(2), 223–246. DOI:10.1086/203251
   Discusses resource sharing and cooperative dynamics, shedding light on gender roles in subsistence strategies.

7. Tomasello, M. (2016).
   A natural history of human morality.
   Harvard University Press. DOI:10.4159/9780674089533
   Examines the evolution of moral frameworks, including sex-based cooperation and equality, in small-scale human societies.

8. Marlowe, F. W. (2007).
   Hunting and gathering: The human sexual division of foraging labor.
   Cross-Cultural Research, 41(2), 170–195. DOI:10.1177/1069397106297529
   Reviews ethnographic evidence for the sexual division of labor in hunter-gatherer groups.

9. Emlen, S. T. (1997).
   Predicting family dynamics in social vertebrates.
   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 94(18), 8092–8099. DOI:10.1073/pnas.94.18.8092
   Explores family-level bargaining and cooperative roles as evolutionary strategies, applicable to hunter-gatherer dynamics.

10. Gurven, M., & Hill, K. (2009).
    Why do men hunt? A reevaluation of “man the hunter” models.
    Current Anthropology, 50(1), 51–74. DOI:10.1086/595620
    Revisits the motivations behind male hunting practices, addressing resource sharing and its social implications.

1. Deb, A., Saunders, D., Major-Smith, D., Dyble, M., E. Page, A., Salali, G. D., B. Migliano, A., Heintz, C., & Chaudhary, N. (2024). Bargaining between the sexes: outside options and leisure time in hunter-gatherer households. Evolution and Human Behavior: Official Journal of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, 45(4), 106589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2024.05.003