Chapters 1 - 3 (Women in Paleolithic times)

After reading through the first three chapters of our text, "Ways of the World," I was reminded of subject matter that I haven't touched on for several years. I've become accustomed to highlighting and taking notes or outlines from history books, but reflecting on the reading (in a History course) is something that's fairly new to me. With that being said, I'll do my best. I will also try and keep an open mind as the way History textbooks (ours included) oftentimes write about the "beginning of time," contradicts with the way I choose to think about the "beginning of time." (I choose a more biblically based, Catholic standpoint, while still trying to keep in mind the laws of science.) Either way, here goes nothing...

What I found most interesting about the first three chapters is that the first human societies were much more egalitarian (or equal) than what is typically portrayed in the media. When I think back to cartoons or books I read as a child about "cavemen" I immediately picture a big, ape-like looking man, clubbing a harmless woman over her head and dragging her by her ponytail back to the cave where she'd cater to him. The book debunks this myth by stating that, within Paleolithic societies, "Relationships between women and men were far more equal than in later societies. As the primary food gatherers, women provided the bulk of the family 'income.' One study of a modern gathering and hunting society in southern Africa found that plants, normally gathered by women, provided 70 percent of the diet, while meat, hunted by men, accounted for just 30 percent" (Strayer, 20).

So what does this mean? It means that in contrast to my once ignorant view of cavemen and "Me Tarzan, You Jane" societies, Paleolithic societies largely relied on the role of the women for sustenance, quite possibly even more so than the men of the societies! Not only did I find this interesting, I also found it inspiring. If women were able to "pull their weight" in such a way so many, many years ago, then it makes me hopeful that we will come full circle as a society and there will be a day where there is no glass ceiling for women for corporate America, or other forms of much worse sexist oppression placed upon women in America and in other parts of this world. I definitely found this as "food for thought."