Final answer:
The move from horticultural practices to agriculture led to a shift in gender roles, with men taking on the fieldwork and women being relegated to domestic tasks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The switch from horticultural to agriculture did indeed contribute to a reversal of some sex roles. During the horticultural period, both genders participated more equally in food production and other aspects of economic life, with women playing a vital role alongside men. However, the transition to agricultural societies saw a shift where men mainly worked the fields, controlling plows because of the need for physical strength, and women were relegated to the domestic sphere, focusing on tasks such as food preparation, pottery, and weaving. The change in economic systems—from hunter-gatherer to horticultural to agricultural—had a significant impact on the division of labor by sex, affecting gender roles.