Surprising timing of the beginning of hierarchies of gender

It was surprising to learn that the hierarchies of gender, still happening today, started "at least since the emergence of the First Civilizations," around 3500 B.C.E., where "gender systems have been patriarchal, meaning that women have been subordinate to men in the family and in society generally"

In the Paleolithic era, gathering and hunting societies created a type of gender systems that maintained a certain equality between genders. But Historians, mentioned in the Ways of the World textbook, wanted to clarify the reason that "civilizations seemed to generate a more explicit and restrictive patriarchy." 

They found that in the Neolithic era, with more intensive form of agriculture, societies became more sedentary and more field work was performed. It was often done at a distance of their homes though and women was unable to leave their primary responsibilities, for child rearing and food preparation, so men needed to do it. It was also considered that the "animal-drawn plows and the keeping and milking of large herds of animals" was heavier work and therefore men was better at it. It is also known that men were around their homes more often, and population started to grow making women even busier around their homes and unable to work in the fields. (Strayer, 2016, p. 72 & 73). 



 
Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin's

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