SUBSTANTIAL BASES OF SOCIETAL GENDER ROLES IN THE UPPER PALEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC PERIODS

Abstract

Substantial Bases of Societal Gender Roles in the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic Periods Abstract Societal structure is a product of the interaction of the elements that compose it. Gender roles, on the other hand, is one of the elements of the societal structure. Therefore, analyzing the gender roles necessitates examining its interaction with the other elements of the societal structure. For example, gender roles can be examined together with the variables of religion-belief system, geography, legal system, or education. As per the economic-class institutions, although they are influenced from the other societal institutions, they are the primary relational systems that determine the societal structure. The objective of this study is to examine the gender roles in the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, together with the economic-political variables of the same era. The motive behind the selection of Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods as the independent variable is that these periods cover an equalitarian political participation period and a classless societal structure different from the contemporary economic and political structures. As the conclusion, it is observed that the equality in the societal gender roles in the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic periods is relevant to the equality in the economic and political participation levels.