Woman the Gatherer

Studies of human evolution and prehistory that use the concept “man the hunter” assign a crucial role to hunting in the formation of our species. This emphasis on male activities in the human adaptation neglects the female’s role in evolution. To redress the balance, Frances Dahlberg has here assembled six new essays, based on original research, which review the likely paths of human evolution and discuss the roles and activities of women in prehistoric groups and among contemporary hunter-gatherers. Guided by the new consciousness about women and using the most recent available data, the authors of this book provide a distinctive anthropological treatment of the question, What is woman (and man)? W.C. McGrew begins by applying sociobiological ideas to chimpanzee data for a speculative reconstruction of our past. Adrienne L. Zihlman widens this discussion to include data from biology, anatomy, and living peoples. Four chapters on contemporary foraging societies follow: Agnes A. Estioko Griffin and P. Bion Griffin on the Agta of the Phillippines, Catherine H. Berndt on the Australian Aborigines. Colin M. Turnbull on the Mbuti pygmies of Zaire, and Henry S. Sharp on the Chipewyan Indians of northwestern Canada. These close examinations of women’s activities reveal the diversity of their contributions and question accepted views of the importance of aggression and economic control in enhancing status and of maternity in reducing status. Woman, in her many roles, cooperates with man to create the uniquely flexible and interdependent social organization of our species.
ASIN: 0300029896
VSKU: BVV.0300029896.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Dahlberg, Frances
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item is very worn but is perfectly usable. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing age related spots and browning . May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.