Question

Hidatasa women made boats, and Pawnee women worked wood. These two cases suggest that:

a. biology has nothing to do with gender roles.
b. anthropologists are too optimistic about finding a society with gender equality.
c. there are exceptions to cross-cultural generalizations about the kinds of work men and women usually do in different societies
d. a Hidatasa or Pawnee man would never do the female task.

Answer 1

The fact that Hidatsa women made boats and Pawnee women worked wood shows that gender roles can be flexible and variable across different societies, suggesting exceptions to cultural stereotypes about gender-specific work.

Step-by-step explanation:

The examples of Hidatsa women making boats and Pawnee women working wood illustrate that there are exceptions to cross-cultural generalizations about the types of work traditionally done by men and women in various societies. This is indicative of the fact that the sexual division of labor is not as rigid as once thought, proving that gender roles and the work associated with them can vary significantly between different cultures and historical contexts. The evidence provided by feminist anthropology and the roles of women in both agricultural and gathering-hunting societies demonstrate that economic systems play a crucial role in shaping gender roles. Such roles have been much more fluid and equal in societies where women have contributed directly to subsistence.