Question

Please explain the archaeological record of "man the hunter," as we understand it; including the adaptation to life using bipedalism (defining it), the sexual division of labor (and why it occurred). Please explain two types of bias that feminist anthropologists identified in the "Man the Hunter" theory of human evolution: ethnocentrism and androcentrism. Define these terms and explain why and how they are biased. How can these biases provide an inaccurate picture of the diversity of gender roles and relations in various prehistorical societies? However, if we concentrate on "Woman the Gatherer," would we experience similar problems as we did in concentrating on solely "Man the Hunter?" Explain what is meant by this.  

Renzetti Curran Maier "Women, Men, and Society" book.

Answer 1

Ethnocentrism is one’s viewing of other cultures through the eyes of their own thus developing a bias while addressing issues or treating people. Androcentrism explains the concept which puts men at the top of the social hierarchy and pushes the importance of women’s role at home and society. While ethnocentrism brings out the narrow mindset of the people, Androcentrism brings out the narrow mindset of the men.

According to the hunter and gatherer theories, men are physically strong and always out hunting for the family while women stay at home, do the household chores and take care of the kids. Even today, men haven’t come out the notion that women contribute to the family with their hard work as much as the men contribute through their work outside. If we calculate the salary for all the work that women do at home such as cooking, cleaning, washing, looking after the kids etc. women may be earning more than what men earn outside. In some countries, it’s more than the national average salary. May be it’s the time that we recognize household works and respect women thus broaden the worldview.