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Early men and women were equal, say scientists
the guardian (uk) ^ | 14 May 2015 | Hannah Devlin

Posted on 10/21/2015 1:53:57 AM PDT by SteveH

Our prehistoric forebears are often portrayed as spear-wielding savages, but the earliest human societies are likely to have been founded on enlightened egalitarian principles, according to scientists.

A study has shown that in contemporary hunter-gatherer tribes, men and women tend to have equal influence on where their group lives and who they live with. The findings challenge the idea that sexual equality is a recent invention, suggesting that it has been the norm for humans for most of our evolutionary history.

Mark Dyble, an anthropologist who led the study at University College London, said: “There is still this wider perception that hunter-gatherers are more macho or male-dominated. We’d argue it was only with the emergence of agriculture, when people could start to accumulate resources, that inequality emerged.”

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: anthropologist; faithandphilosophy; godsgravesglyphs; limey; limeys; markdyble; unitedkingdom; wishfulthinking
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I'm not certain that the conclusion is warranted. IIRC, some Native American tribes would obtain women from raiding parties conducted against neighboring villages/tribes. This practice implies to me that women were regarded as similar to property by males in areas where such tribes lived, and society would then reinforce patriarchy in those areas. However, I have no background in this (perhaps someone with more can help illuminate the various scientific theories)
1 posted on 10/21/2015 1:53:57 AM PDT by SteveH
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To: SunkenCiv

ggg ping


2 posted on 10/21/2015 1:54:26 AM PDT by SteveH
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To: SteveH

......We’d argue it was only with the emergence of agriculture, when people could start to accumulate resources, that inequality emerged.”.....

Sounds like more blame capitalism nonsense.


3 posted on 10/21/2015 2:06:01 AM PDT by Fzob (Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives.)
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To: SteveH

Even troglodytes understood that if “momma” ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.


4 posted on 10/21/2015 2:08:12 AM PDT by wbarmy (I chose to be a sheepdog once I saw what happens to the sheep.)
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To: SteveH

Men have more muscle; women are the ones who have babies. They certainly had different roles. That’s only common sense. Back then, those who abandoned common sense died, unlike today when they are celebrated.


5 posted on 10/21/2015 2:42:09 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: SteveH

Slavery, Indentured Servitude and bound apprenticeships have existed since the beginning of humanity. The only equalization of humanity occurred after the resurrection of Christ.


6 posted on 10/21/2015 2:50:16 AM PDT by x_plus_one ( when reason is finished, only faith continues to ascend)
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To: SteveH

Yes. As usual, everything was perfect until evil white male Europeans ruined it...


7 posted on 10/21/2015 3:00:25 AM PDT by WayneS (Yeah, it's probably sarcasm...)
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To: SteveH

Interesting. It looks like they developed a computer model to give them the results they wanted, and the model gave them the results they wanted.


8 posted on 10/21/2015 3:03:41 AM PDT by WayneS (Yeah, it's probably sarcasm...)
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To: SteveH

In a world driven by physical strength, women were only the primary achievers in child birth.

The trouble with anthropologists is that they find two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and draw in the rest with guesses and wishful thinking.

It’s a conjecture of possible explanations, one of which they must choose in order to publish.


9 posted on 10/21/2015 4:04:59 AM PDT by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
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To: WayneS

Yes. As usual, everything was perfect until evil white male Europeans ruined it...


Yup.


10 posted on 10/21/2015 4:05:13 AM PDT by rbg81 (is pr)
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To: SteveH

” men and women tend to have equal influence on where their group lives and who they live with.”

I read pure crap like this and can’t believe that people actually think this is a true researched statement. Stop, and use some very basic common sense: How do they know? Did they actually ask one of the ancients? Hell no, they simply figured that they might have lived that way for they have absolutely no physical proof of the fact.

As a matter of fact, the article smells of the stink of Political Correctness.


11 posted on 10/21/2015 4:08:13 AM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: SteveH
the earliest human societies are likely to have been founded on enlightened egalitarian principles, according to scientists.

And, as we all know, if 'scientists' say something, it must be true...

/s

12 posted on 10/21/2015 4:23:51 AM PDT by Zeppo ("Happy Pony is on - and I'm NOT missing Happy Pony")
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To: SteveH
Early men and women were equal, say scientists

SURE they were...

13 posted on 10/21/2015 4:25:10 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Diseases desperate grown Are by desperate appliance relieved Or not at al)
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To: SteveH

Yes, they were called ‘Adam and Eve’


14 posted on 10/21/2015 4:29:24 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: SteveH

Considering one of the main driving forces putting woman and men on equal footing in society way after caveman was the advent of the teaching of christianity, but not exclusively...

I’d say their “model” falls in the range of GIGO


15 posted on 10/21/2015 4:33:18 AM PDT by Popman (Christ alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: Pollster1

When the proverbial SHTF finally, those 90% of us who’ve abandoned common sense won’t make it.


16 posted on 10/21/2015 4:52:13 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
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To: DH

Why is this so hard to believe? It’s true in many cases as it is. No reason to discount females influencing directly what to do, or indirectly. It happens in lower mammals as well.

This is not much different than discovering that Christianity wasn’t that bad for women, nor the USA and its Constitution.


17 posted on 10/21/2015 5:01:47 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs.)
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To: Roman_War_Criminal
When the proverbial SHTF finally, those 90% of us who’ve abandoned common sense won’t make it.

I'm not sure how I feel about that, but feelings do not matter in such situations. The reality is that you're right.

18 posted on 10/21/2015 5:14:30 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: Pollster1

Denial of reality gets so many killed and in harmful, threatening situations.

It is what it is I suppose.


19 posted on 10/21/2015 5:35:35 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
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To: fortheDeclaration
Genesis 3.16: the Lord tells Eve, "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Doesn't sound like equality to me.

20 posted on 10/21/2015 5:42:24 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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