New Research Challenges Long-Held Belief about Gender Roles in Ancient Times
University of Delaware anthropology professor Sarah Lacy has presented a groundbreaking theory that challenges the traditional narrative of gender roles during ancient times. Lacy’s research, recently published in Scientific American and the journal American Anthropologist, suggests that the idea of men as hunters and women as gatherers may not be accurate.
Lacy and her colleague Cara Ocobock from the University of Notre Dame conducted a detailed examination of the division of labor based on sex during the Paleolithic era, spanning approximately 2.5 million to 12,000 years ago. Through a review of archaeological evidence and literature, they discovered little support for the notion that specific roles were assigned to each sex.
Contrary to popular belief, the researchers found examples of equality between the sexes in ancient tools, diet, art, burials, and anatomy. Lacy highlighted the fact that gendered assumptions were often made when interpreting artifacts, without considering that both men and women could have been involved in various activities.
Furthermore, the team examined whether anatomical and physiological differences between men and women prevented women from hunting. They found that while men had advantages in activities requiring speed and power, such as sprinting and throwing, women had advantages in activities that required endurance. Both sets of activities were vital in the hunting practices of ancient times.
The researchers emphasized the role of estrogen, a hormone more prominent in women, which can increase fat metabolism and regulate muscle breakdown. Estrogen’s presence in the human body dates back 600 million years, suggesting that women were biologically suited for hunting and physically capable of participating in such activities.
Lacy’s theory challenges the widely accepted idea that only men hunted, while women focused solely on gathering. The traditional narrative of men as hunters and women as gatherers gained prominence in 1968, with the publication of “Man the Hunter.” Lacy points out the gender bias in earlier studies, which perpetuated the notion and subsequently influenced popular culture.
Although Lacy acknowledges that more research is needed to fully understand the lives of prehistoric people, especially women, she hopes that her perspective on labor division will become the default approach for future studies. The evidence suggests that both genders played a crucial role in subsistence gathering and hunting, driving the societies of the time.
“It’s not something that only men did and that therefore male behavior drove evolution,” Lacy explained. “We were a very egalitarian species for millions of years in many ways.”
The groundbreaking research by Lacy and Ocobock sheds new light on ancient societies and challenges long-held beliefs about gender roles. As the scientific community continues to reevaluate prehistoric narratives, a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of our ancestors’ lives may emerge.