Final answer:
The status of women changes with social and cultural contexts, influenced by economic roles, intersectionality, and historical events like conflict and war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relative status of women is variable and depends on several social and cultural factors such as the subsistence strategy employed, the importance of warfare, and the distinction between domestic and public spheres. Feminist anthropologists have identified patterns where women's roles in subsistence contribute to higher social status and equality. However, the intersection of gender with race, class, ethnicity, age, sexuality, and physical ability, a concept known as intersectionality, complicates this narrative. Additionally, society's transformation during periods of conflict, like WWII, challenged traditional gender roles and introduced women to the public workforce in larger numbers. Considering these complexities, gender roles and the status of women in society are subjected to many external, systemic factors.