Final answer:
The sexual division of labor for keeping animals in pastoralist societies is based on gender with men typically responsible for larger animals and women for smaller ones, as well as processing animal products and maintaining the household.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sexual division of labor for keeping animals is a social structure found within pastoralist societies where tasks are divided based on gender. In many pastoralist cultures, men and boys are responsible for the larger animals such as camels and cattle, including herding, providing water, and protecting them from predators. Older men may also manage herds and handle resources and security for their family. Women and girls, on the other hand, typically look after the smaller animals like goats and sheep, which includes herding, feeding, milking, processing milk products, and even selling products in local markets.
Women are also tasked with making tents, gathering firewood, and cooking as well as caring for children, sick animals, and people thereby maintaining knowledge of plant medicines. In the case of the Bedouin, for example, when both large and small animals are kept there is a clear division where men care for the larger animals while women tend to the smaller ones. This division, however can vary based on the types of animals herded. Similarly in Hadza society, although the division of labor is based on sex tasks such as gathering specific foods are not strictly divided and can sometimes be performed by either men or women. It is important to note that the sexual division of labor extends beyond animal husbandry. In gatherer-hunter societies women do most of the gathering and men do most of the hunting. This division allows for an efficient system of cooperation that makes full use of the physical abilities and social roles of both men and women.