Final answer:
Bilateral descent is common in hunter-gatherer societies, characterized by tracing lineage through both parents, with a strong emphasis on egalitarianism due to their dependency on the environment and need for cooperation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addition to North America, bilateral descent is common amongst societies with gathering-hunting modes of subsistence. Hunter-gatherer societies, often in small groups like bands, demonstrate a strong connection to their environment and lean towards egalitarian social structures with a focus on equality, cooperation, and sharing. Such descent is characterized by individuals tracing kinship through both their fathers and their mothers. This stands in contrast to unilineal descent systems which are common in pastoral or agrarian societies where lineage is traced either through the father (patrilineal) or the mother (matrilineal).
These bilateral descent systems often occur in hunter-gatherer societies because their lifestyle requires a high degree of cooperation and mobility, leading to more fluid and inclusive family networks. However, as societies evolve towards large-scale agricultural and industrial nations, different forms of social organization and descent tend to emerge. Industrialized societies might maintain elements of bilateral descent but often develop more complex kinship systems and social stratification.