Circumpolar lives and livelihood : a comparative ethnoarchaeology of gender and subsistence

Circumpolar Lives and Livelihood is a cross-cultural ethnoarchaeological study of the gendered nature of subsistence in northern hunter-gatherer-fisher societies. Based on field studies of four circumpolar societies, it documents the complexities of women’s and men’s involvement in food procurement, processing, and storage, and the relationship of such behaviors to the built landscape. Avoiding simplistic stereotypes of male and female roles, the framework of “gendered landscapes” reveals the variability and flexibility of women’s and men’s actual lives in a manner useful for archaeological interpretations of hunter-foragers. Innovative in scope and design, this is the first study to employ a controlled, four-way, cross-cultural comparison of gender and subsistence. Members of an international team of anthropologists experienced in northern scholarship apply the same task-differentiation methodology in studies of Chipewyan hunter-fishers of Canada, Khanty hunter-fisher-herders of Western Siberia, Sámi intensive reindeer herders of northwestern Finland, and Iñupiaq maritime hunters of the Bering Strait of Alaska. This database on gender and subsistence is used to reassess one of the bedrock concepts in anthropology and social science: the sexual division of labor. (20070618)

circumpolar Lives And Livelihood Is A Cross-cultural Ethnoarchaeological Study Of The Gendered Nature Of Subsistence In Northern Hunter-gatherer-fisher Societies. Based On Field Studies Of Four Circumpolar Societies, It Documents The Complexities Of Women’s And Men’s Involvement In Food Procurement, Processing, And Storage, And The Relationship Of Such Behaviors To The Built Landscape. Avoiding Simplistic Stereotypes Of Male And Female Roles, The Framework Of “gendered Landscapes” Reveals The Variability And Flexibility Of Women’s And Men’s Actual Lives In A Manner Useful For Archaeological Interpretations Of Hunter-foragers.

innovative In Scope And Design, This Is The First Study To Employ A Controlled, Four-way, Cross-cultural Comparison Of Gender And Subsistence. Members Of An International Team Of Anthropologists Experienced In Northern Scholarship Apply The Same Task-differentiation Methodology In Studies Of Chipewyan Hunter-fishers Of Canada, Khanty Hunter-fisher-herders Of Western Siberia, Sámi Intensive Reindeer Herders Of Northwestern Finland, And Iñupiaq Maritime Hunters Of The Bering Strait Of Alaska. This Database On Gender And Subsistence Is Used To Reassess One Of The Bedrock Concepts In Anthropology And Social Science: The Sexual Division Of Labor.

polar Record

this Is A Highly Readable And Useful Study That Adds To The Understanding Of The Ways That Social Relations Inhere And Are Embedded In Tasks. The Explication Of The Research Methodology And The Structured Approach To The Reporting Add To The Strength Of The Combined Case Studies. . . . Circumpolar Lives And Livelihood Is A Significant Contribution To The Growing Literature About Circumpolar Peoples That Has Been Made Possible By The End Of The Cold War.

— Pamela Stern, Polar Record

__Circumpolar Lives and Livelihood__ is a cross-cultural ethnoarchaeological study of the gendered nature of subsistence in northern hunter-gatherer-fisher societies. Based on field studies of four circumpolar societies, it documents the complexities of women’s and men’s involvement in food procurement, processing, and storage, and the relationship of such behaviors to the built landscape. Avoiding simplistic stereotypes of male and female roles, the framework of “gendered landscapes” reveals the variability and flexibility of women’s and men’s actual lives in a manner useful for archaeological interpretations of hunter-foragers.Innovative in scope and design, this is the first study to employ a controlled, four-way, cross-cultural comparison of gender and subsistence. Members of an international team of anthropologists experienced in northern scholarship apply the same task-differentiation methodology in studies of Chipewyan hunter-fishers of Canada, Khanty hunter-fisher-herders of Western Siberia, Sámi intensive reindeer herders of northwestern Finland, and Iñupiaq maritime hunters of the Bering Strait of Alaska. This database on gender and subsistence is used to reassess one of the bedrock concepts in anthropology and social science: the sexual division of labor. Introduction: Gender, subsistence, and ethnoarchaeology / Robert Jarvenpa and Hetty Jo Brumbach Chipewyan society and gender relations / Hetty Jo Brumbach and Robert Jarvenpa Chipewyan hunters : a task differentiation analysis / Robert Jarvenpa and Hetty Jo Brumbach Khanty society and gender relations / Elena Glavatskaya Khanty hunterfisherherders : a task differentiation analysis of Trom'agan women's and men's subsistence activities / Elena Glavatskaya Sami society and gender relations / Jukka Pennanen Sami reindeer herders : a task differentiation analysis / Jukka Pennanen Inupiaq society and gender relations / Carol Zane Jolles Inupiaq maritime hunters : summer subsistence work in diomede / Carol Zane Jolles Conclusion: Toward a comparative ethnoarchaeology of gender / Hetty Jo Brumbach and Robert Jarvenpa. Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 9 Maps......Page 10 Tables......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1. Introduction: Gender, Subsistence, and Ethnoarchaeology......Page 16 2. Chipewyan Society and Gender Relations......Page 39 3. Chipewyan Hunters......Page 69 4. Khanty Society and Gender Relations......Page 94 5. Khanty Hunter–Fisher–Herders......Page 130 6. Sámi Society and Gender Relations......Page 173 7. Sámi Reindeer Herders......Page 201 8. Iñupiaq Society and Gender Relations......Page 253 9. Iñupiaq Maritime Hunters......Page 278 10. Conclusion: Toward a Comparative Ethnoarchaeology of Gender......Page 302 Notes on Contributors......Page 340 Index......Page 342 Scene 1: The woman quickly butchered the seal her husband had deposited on the boulder-strewn shore.