WOMEN IN PRE-HISTORICAL TIMES
I.PRE-HISTORIC CIVILIZATION - WOMEN THE FOOD GATHERERS
1.INTRODUCTION: FANTASY VERSUS REALITY
A.ALL MAJOR DISCIPLINES NOW INTO DEBATE ON WOMEN'S ROLE IN
PREHISTORIC TIMES
B.OLD CLICHES WHERE MAN MIGHTY HUNTER
a.DRAGGING WOMEN TO CAVES
C.NO LONGER APPLICABLE TO MODERN SCHOLARSHIP
D.MOST FOREWORD THINKING SCHOLARS ARE NOW ATTRIBUTING
TO WOMEN INVENTIONS THAT MEN PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED
CREDIT FOR
E.IN OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN CULTURE GOD IS A MALE
a.WE ARE NOW DISCOVERING DISTINCT POSSIBILITY GOD WAS
A WOMAN - GODDESS
F.PREHISTORIC MEN UP TO NOW HAVE BEEN CREDIT FOR BRINGING
HOME THE CHIEF FOOD ITEM - SOME ANIMAL KILLED IN A
HUNT
a.THIS TOO IS CHANGING AS PREHISTORIC REMAINS OF
HUMANS FIND THROUGH TEETH ANALYSIS
(1)GRAIN, NUTS & FRUITS, MAJOR FOOD
(a)NOT MEAT
II.WOMEN AS FOOD PRODUCERS, GATHERS & PRESERVERS
1.GENERAL REMARKS
A.ANTHROPOLOGISTS NOW SURVEYED AROUND 175
HUNTER/GATHERING CULTURES IN
a.OCEANIA, ASIAN, AFRICA & AMERICA
B.HUNTING NEARLY EXCLUSIVELY DONE BY MALES
C.STUDIES SHOW HOW INEFFICIENT HUNTING IS AS MEANS FOR
PROVIDING FOOD
D.AS RESULT ONLY WOMEN'S GATHERING, NOT MEN'S HUNTING
SUSTAINS TRIBE
E.WOMEN REGULARLY PRODUCE 80% OF TRIBE'S TOTAL FOOD
NB
F.AT NO POINT IN PREHISTORY DID WOMEN W/OR W/O CHILDREN
RELY ON THEIR HUNTING MALES FOR FOOD
2.WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMY
A.WOMEN'S GATHERING CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO CIVILIZATION
PROCESS
B.FOR SUCCESSFUL GATHERING DEMANDED & DEVELOPED SKILLS
OF
a.DISCRIMINATION, EVALUATION & MEMORY
C.RANGE OF SEEDS, NUTSHELLS & GRASSES DISCOVERED AT
PRIMITIVE SITES IN AFRICA
a.INDICATE CAREFUL & KNOWLEDGEABLE SELECTION
b.RATHER THAN RANDOM GLEANING DICTATED CHOICE
D.ANTHROPOLOGISTS FIXATION ON MAN THE HUNTER HAS
DESIGNATED FIRST TOOLS AS WEAPONS OF HUNT
E.MANY SCHOLARS NOW SAY HUNT MUCH LATER DEVELOPMENT
THAN GATHERING?
F.BONES, STONES & LENGTHS OF WOOD USED AS AIDS TO
GATHERING ROOTS & TUBERS
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G.& FOR PULVERIZING WOODY VEGETATION FOR EASE OF CHEWING
H.ALL THESE WOMEN'S TOOLS
I.DISCOVERY OF DIGGING STICKS
a.WITH FIRE-HARDENED POINTS
b.INDICATES PROBLEM-SOLVING CREATIVITY OF THESE
FEMALE FORAGERS
J.BUT UNLIKE FLINT HEADS FOR AXES, SPEARS & ARROWS,
K.VERY FEW OF EARLIER TOOLS HAVE SURVIVED TO TELL TALE OF
WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS
L.AS FOODS GATHERED HAD TO BE CARRIED
M.SO PERHAPS WOMEN WOULD HAVE HAD TO MAKE GATHERS'
SWAG BAG FOR THIS
N.& THEN IF WOMAN HAD TO CARRY BABY THEN HER SLING WOULD
HAVE HAD TO BE DESIGNED FOR THAT TOO
O.AS MOST EARLY WOMEN DID NOT LIVE BEYOND THEIR TWENTIES
P.THERE WOULD BE NO POOL OF OLDER, WOMEN TO LOOK AFTER
INFANTS
Q.CLAIMED SINCE MAN THE HUNTER NEEDED TO COOPERATE TO
HUNT AMONG MALES
a.THEY DEVELOPED SKILL IN COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL
ORGANIZATION
b.& SO EVOLUTIONARY SPUR TO MORE COMPLEX BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT
R.BUT WOMEN SCHOLARS HAVE COUNTERED
a.NEED TO ORGANIZE FEEDING & PLAY, ETC.
b.ALL INVOLVE GROUP COMMUNICATION & SOCIAL SKILLS
TOO
c.AS WOMEN SPEAK 25,000 WORDS TODAY & MEN ONLY 10,000
(1)WHO WOULD HAVE INVENTED LANGUAGE?
3.MENSTRUATION & ABSTRACT THINKING & CALENDARS
A.CONNECTION MADE IN PRIMITIVE SOCIETIES BETWEEN LUNAR &
MENSTRUAL CYCLES
B.SUGGESTING WOMEN FIRST ABLE TO RECOGNIZE ABSTRACTIONS
C.AS ALL WOMEN HAVE BODY CALENDAR
D.WOMAN WOULD HAVE NOTICED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HER
OWN BODY CYCLE & LUNAR CYCLE
4.OTHER MYTHS TO BREAK DOWN
A.HUNTING WHOLE GROUP ACTIVITY
B.HUNTING DID NOT MEAN FIGHTING
C.MOST FORMS OF HUNTING DID NOT INVOLVE AGGRESSION,
PERSONAL COMBAT OR STRUGGLE TO DEATH
D.PREYING ON SLOW-MOVING ANIMALS LIKE TURTLES, ON
WOUNDED OR SICK ANIMALS OR FEMALES ABOUT TO GIVE
BIRTH OR ON CARCASSES KILLED & ABANDONED BY OTHER
FIERCER PREDATORS
E.MEN & WOMEN RELIED ON EACH OTHER'S SKILLS BEFORE, DURING
& AFTER HUNT
F.SO CAVE MAN MENTALITY OF HITTING WOMAN OVER HEAD & SHE
SPENDING TIME IN CAVE IS LUDICROUS
G.WOMEN IN THESE CULTURES PLAYED TOO VITAL ROLE
H.THEIR KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE NECESSARY RESOURCES
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I.MEN IN HUNTER/GATHERER SOCIETIES DO NOT COMMAND OR
EXPLOIT WOMEN'S LABOR
a.MAKE NO FETISH OF VIRGINITY OR CHASTITY
b.MAKE NO DEMANDS OF WOMEN'S SEXUAL EXCLUSIVITY
J.SO EVIDENCE FROM EXISTING STONE AGE CULTURES SHOW THAT
WOMEN TAKE ON ROLES OF
a.COUNSELLORS
b.WISE WOMEN
c.LEADERS
d.STORYTELLERS
e.DOCTORS
f.MAGICIANS
g.LAWGIVERS
5.NEOLITHIC AGE - 10,000-7000 BC.
A.FROM POINT OF VIEW OF LIVES OF WOMEN
B.NEOLITHIC PERIOD PERHAPS MOST NB PHASE OF PREHISTORY
C.BY END OF PALEOLITHIC WOMEN ENJOYED EQUALITY WITH MEN
D.THEY PROBABLY COLLECTED MUCH IF NOT MORE FOOD EATEN
BY COMMUNITY
E.& THEIR EQUALITY STATUS DERIVED FROM THEIR CONTRIBUTION
F.BUT BY ABOUT C 3000 B.C.
a.4000 YRS AGO
G.MANY OF GENDER ROLES & BEHAVIOR TYPICAL OF WESTERN
WORLD TODAY PROBABLY ESTABLISHED
H.IMPLICATION -CRUCIAL CHANGES TOOK PLACE DURING
NEOLITHIC AGE
I.CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF NEOLITHIC
a.ESTABLISHMENT OF AGRICULTURE
b.C 7TH MILLENNIUM BC OR EARLIER
J.1 OF MOST MOMENTOUS CHANGES
a.DOMESTICATION OF PLANTS & ANIMALS
K.DISCOVERY OF FARMING TECHNIQUES USUALLY ASSUMED TO
HAVE BEEN MADE BY MEN
a.BUT MORE LIKELY MADE BY WOMEN
L.WOMEN BY LONG TRIAL & ERROR PROBABLY FIGURED OUT HOW
TO GROW & TEND CROPS
M.BY 6000 B.C. TRANSITION FROM FORAGING TO FARMING MADE
a.C. 6000 BC.
N.WOMEN PROBABLY RECOGNIZED IDEAL SOILS & CHOSE LAND TO
BE CLEARED
O.STUDIES OF ROLES OF WOMEN IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES SHOW REMARKABLY
CONSISTENT PATTERN
P.IN SOCIETIES WHERE PLOUGH AGRICULTURE IS PRACTICED
a.& ANIMALS KEPT ON SIGNIFICANT SCALE
b.MOST OF AGRICULTURAL WORK DONE BY MEN
c.WITH WOMEN PLAYING NO DIRECT PART
(1)OR VERY SUBSIDIARY ROLE
Q.BUT IN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES
a.WHERE HOES OR DIGGING STICKS USED FOR MAKING HOLES
TO PLANT ROOTS OR SEEDS
6.
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b.WOMEN USUALLY MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTION
7.WHY DID FARMING EVENTUALLY BECOME PREDOMINANTLY
MALE PRESERVE?
A.BY TIME OF EARLIEST WRITTEN RECORDS
a.3000 b.c.
B.EUROPE FARMING PRIMARILY MALE OCCUPATION
a.MEN OWNED FARMLAND & TOOLS
C.CHANGE TO MALE DOMINANCE AGRICULTURE & MORE
PATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES
a.BETWEEN NEOLITHIC PERIOD & ADVENT OF WRITTEN
RECORDS
b.MAY BE RELATED TO CHANGING ROLE OF ANIMALS WITHIN
FARMING ECONOMIES
D.MOST SCHOLARS DATE CRUCIAL CHANGES IN FARMING PRACTICE
AROUND 3000 B.C.
a.SOME 5000 YRS AFTER INTRODUCTION OF FARMING
E.HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT ALTHOUGH DOMESTICATED
ANIMALS KEPT DURING EARLY NEOLITHC PERIOD
a.THEY USED ONLY AS SOURCE OF MEAT
b.CONSUMPTION OF MILK OR MILK PRODUCTS PROBABLY NOT
SIGNIFICANT
c.NOR ANIMALS USED FOR PULLING PLOUGHS OR CARTS
F.GREATER NB OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS & THEIR PRODUCTS
WOULD HAVE REDUCED NECESSITY FOR HUNTING WILD
ANIMALS
G.AS BALANCE OF WORK CHANGED FROM
a.PART HUNTING,
b.PART CROP CULTIVATION
c.& TENDING SMALL NUMBER OF ANIMALS
d.TO ECONOMY DEPENDENT ON MIXED FARMING
H.SO ROLES & DUTIES OF WOMEN & MEN MAY HAVE SHIFTED
I.EARLIEST DEPICTIONS IN SCULTPURE & ART FORMS
a.OF BOTH PLOUGHING & MILKING
b.SHOW THESE TASKS BEING DONE BY MEN
J.SO IT APPEARS WHO IS TO DO WHAT TASK
a.PREDICATED ON SCALE
K.IF MILKING, FARMING ETC. DONE ON SMALL SCALE THEN WOMEN
DO IT
L.IF LARGE SCALE THEN MEN DO IT
M.BUT WOMEN ALWAYS SEEM TO DO PROCESSING OF MILK INTO
CHEESE & YOGHURT
N.IN HOMERIC LEGENDS, IN MYCENAEAN GREEK DOCUMENTS &
LATER IN CLASSICAL GREECE
O.SPINNING & WEAVING ALMOST UNIVERSALLY FEMALE TASKS
P.OFTEN FORMING SIGNIFICANT PART OF ECONOMY
Q.SO ONCE SPINNING & WEAVING OF WOOL DISCOVERED
a.CREATED ADDITIONAL TIME-CONSUMING ROLE FOR WOMAN
FARMER
R.PERHAPS WOMAN'S ROLE IN THESE DUTIES WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN POSSIBLE
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a.WITHOUT REALLOCATION OF OTHER TASKS TO MEN
S.ALTHOUGH FLAX GROWN & USED AS TEXTILE EARLY IN
NEOLITHIC
T.BREEDING OF SHEEP WHICH PRODUCE WOOL PROBABLY
ORIGINATED AS EARLY AS 5TH MILLENNIUM IN
MESOPOTAMIA
U.BUT ONLY BECAME COMMON IN 3RD MILLENNIUM
V.IN AREAS OF WORLD WHERE PLOUGH AGRICULTURE & HERDING
OF ANIMALS PREDOMINANT FORM OF FARMING
W.MEN UNIVERSALLY PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN AGRICULTURAL TASKS
X.WOMEN'S ROLE SMALL OR NON-EXISTENT
Y.ASSUMED THAT IN LATER NEOLITHIC TIMES WHEN MEN BEGAN
TO TAKE OVER MOST OF AGRICULTURAL WORK
a.SOCIAL STATUS OF WOMEN DECLINED
Z.& AS MORE LAND COULD BE CULTIVATED WITH PLOUGH
AA.FARMING BECAME MORE LABOR INTENSIVE & LARGER
BB.SO WOMEN WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO PRODUCE MORE
CHILDREN FOR LABORERS
CC.SO SPENT MORE TIME PREGNANT & CARRYING OF YOUNG
a.LESS TIME FOR FARMING ACTIVITIES FOR WOMEN
DD.SO MEN TOOK OVER MANY OF THEIR TASKS
EE.SO WOMEN NO LONGER CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO DAILY
PRODUCTION OF FOOD
FF.WOMAN'S ECNOMIC CONTRIBUTION
a.CRUCIAL FACTOR IN MAINTAINING EQUAL STATUS
GG.ANOTHER NB LEITMOTIF IN HISTORY
a.WOMEN'S STATUS RISES MORE SHE CONTRIBUTES
ECONOMICALLY TO FAMILY ASIDE FROM HOUSEWORK
& REARING OF CHILDREN
8.INVENTORS OF WRITING FEMALE
A.SUMER - GODDESS NIDABA OR NISABA
a.INVENTED CLAY TABLETS & ART OF WRITING
b.BECAME GODDESS OVER WISDOM AS WELL AS WRITING
c.SHE PERENNIAL WISE WOMAN
(1)ONE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING
d.SHE ALSO GREAT TEACHER
(1)WHO GIVES ADVICE TO ALL
(2)ENDOWS KINGS WITH WISDOM
B.WRITING & SURVEYING ESSENTIAL TO EXISTENCE OF URBAN
CIVILIZATION
C.& SO GODDESS NISABA MAKES CITIES POSSIBLE
D.SCRIBES PRAISING NISABA GENERALLY MALE
E.WHY, THEN DID THEY IMAGINE THEIR PROFESSION TO BE UNDER
TUTELAGE OF FEMALE?
F.AND WHY DID SINGERS & HEALERS, MANY OF WHOM ALSO MEN,
PRAY TO AND PRAISE THEIR PATRON GODDESSES?
G.PART OF REASON WOMEN CHIEF CARETAKERS OF NURSING
CHILDREN
H.THIS MEANT CHILD DEVELOPED IN PRESENCE OF WHAT SEEMED
TO AN ALL-KNOWING ALL-POWERFUL MOTHER
I.ALSO MEN ENGAGED IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
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a.PLOUGHING DIGGING DITCHES, BUILDING WALLS
J.WOMEN 'S ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TENDING CHILDREN, COOKING,
CLOTH MAKING, BEER BREWING
a.SUCH ACTIVITIES TECHNOLOGICALLY MORE
SOPHISTICATED & COMPLICATED
b.& APPEARED MORE INTRICATE IN COMPARISON WITH
MALES ACTIVITIES
K.EARLIEST EXAMPLES OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE YET DISCOVERED
a.TEMPLE OF QUEEN OF HEAVEN IN ERECH IN SUMER
(1)FOR BUSINESS ACCOUNTS OF TEMPLE
L.NEARLY EVERYWHERE GODDESS REVERED AS WISE COUNSELOR
& PROPHETESS
a.ATHENA
b.SOPHIA IN O.T.
M.CELTIC CERRIDWEN GODDESS OF INTELLIGENCE
N.GODDESS BRIDGIT PATRON DEITY OF LANGUAGE