The document discusses gender roles and the division of labor across cultures. It defines sex as biological attributes and gender as cultural attributes derived from biological differences. While male dominance was once widely assumed, recent research finds this is problematic and more statistical than absolute. The document examines cases where women have significant influence, such as the !Kung and Iroquois, and considers explanations for gendered divisions of labor including compatibility with childcare and male expendability, noting no single explanation applies universally.

1. Gender, Sex, and Culture The Importance of Gender Roles