Final answer:
Immediate return hunter-gatherer societies consume resources as they find them and do not store food. They have fluid leadership depending on the task, and they emphasize sharing and egalitarianism over hierarchical structures. There is a sexual division of labor, with women playing a critical role in gathering, which provides most of the group's sustenance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Immediate return hunter-gatherer societies are characterized by their immediate consumption of food rather than storing it. These groups typically do not have strong leaders or heads of households in the way that hierarchical societies do. Leadership within these societies is often fluid and based on the particular task at hand, depending on individuals' prowess and personality. For instance, different individuals may lead a hunt or a gathering expedition. Decisions like when to move camp are often made collectively, with input from those most knowledgeable about the resource scarcity, such as the women in their role as primary gatherers.
Because hunter-gatherer groups are nomadic, they rarely accumulate possessions and instead highly value sharing and egalitarianism. This preference for egalitarianism is so pronounced that behaviors such as greed or excessive pride are socially stigmatized. The sexual division of labor is prevalent, with men typically handling most of the hunting and women contributing significantly through gathering—often providing the majority of the calories for the group's diet.