The relative decline in women’s contributions to agriculture with intensification

American Anthropologist • Vol/Iss. 85 • Published In • Pages: 285-304 •
By Ember, Carol R.

Abstract

This article presents theory and hypothesis tests that suggest that the decline of women's contribution to intensive agriculture is related to increases in fertility and domestic work associated with cereal crops. Additionally, men in agricultural societies are less likely to invest time in hunting and warfare, so their contribution of agricultural labor relative to women's increases.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Probability Sample Files (PSF)Researchers Ownsome codes from previous Ember study
OtherCombinationMinge-Klevana 1980; Moni Nag 1962

Hypotheses (8)

HypothesisSupported
Intensive agriculture, as compared to simpler agriculture, will be positively associated with increases in women's domestic work (288)Supported
Intensive agriculture will be positively associated with cereal crops (288)Supported
Intensive agriculture is positively associated with more time for women spent in childcare (291)Supported
Intensive agriculture will be associated with shorter postpartum sex taboos (1 year or less) (294)Supported
Less contraceptive use will be positively associated with decreases in fertility (294)Supported
Warfare will interfere more with male labor in horticultural societies than in intensive agricultural societies (298)Supported
Intensive agriculture will be positively associated with special fighting forces, compared to horticulture (298-9)Supported
Societies with intensive agriculture will have higher fertility than societies with horticulture.Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Tahlisa Brougham