Final answer:
The earliest division of labor between women and men was in hunter-gatherer societies, with men typically hunting and women gathering, though there was flexibility in these roles. Women's work in gathering provided the majority of the diet, which afforded them a degree of equality. As societies moved to agriculture, gender roles and status shifted, leading to more pronounced social divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest known division of labor between women and men is in hunter-gatherer societies. In these societies, there was a sexual division of labor; men did most of the hunting and women did most of the gathering. However, both sexes participated in these activities to some extent. Evidence suggests that the division of labor was somewhat flexible, with women also participating in hunting occasionally and men helping with gathering.
The relative equality of women in hunter-gatherer societies is often linked to their vital role in providing the majority of calories through gathering. Hunting, while being a prestigious activity that gave prominence to successful male hunters, did not contribute as much to the overall diet as gathering. As communities began to adopt agriculture, however, roles changed and men took on the task of working the fields while women were relegated to domestic duties. This shift likely increased social divisions and reduced the relative status of women compared to their roles in hunter-gatherer societies.