Final answer:
The borrowing of stone axes in Neolithic societies exemplifies the gender-based social organization where men made tools and women often borrowed them for specific tasks. The act of borrowing reflects structured social roles and age-based hierarchies within the community.
Step-by-step explanation:
The necessary and constant borrowing of stone axes from older men by women and children among the Yir Yoront was in accordance with regular patterns of social organization and division of labor. In the context of Neolithic societies, the division of labor was often gender-based, with men typically engaging in the manufacture of weapons and tools, and in hunting. Simultaneously, women, who played a major role in gathering plant foods, caring for children, and craft-making activities such as farming, weaving, and pottery, required these stone tools for various tasks. The borrowing mechanism likely reflects a system of age-based authority and responsibility, wherein elders controlled the production and distribution of crucial resources like stone tools.
Examining historical and archaeological evidence from various Neolithic communities, we see a recurring theme of gender-based divisions of labor. For instance, women in some Neolithic Chinese communities were buried with a similar number of items as men, suggesting a certain level of equality or symmetry in roles and responsibilities. Yet, the specifics of these social arrangements could vary greatly from one community to another, influenced by environmental conditions, available technologies, and evolving social structures.