The status of women in preindustrial societies

Princeton University Press • Princeton, NJ • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Whyte, Martin King

Abstract

This book is concerned with explaining variation in the status of women. The author, after measuring over 50 aspects of status, first concludes that status is not a unitary concept. Therefore the author looks at 10 different domains of status. Many traditional explanations are not supported; most support is found for the influence of social complexity which generally lowers female status.

Note

Several tests of methods are presented in the book but not summarized in the hypotheses section of this form.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Researchers Own

Hypotheses (23)

HypothesisSupported
Cultures with intensive plow agriculture will be associated with lower status of women than cultures with other subsistence types (28)Partially supported
Cultures with herding of large animals will be associated with lower status of women than cultures with other subsistence types (28)Partially supported
Cultures with hunting (large animal hunting) will be associated with lower status of women than cultures with other subsistence types (28)Not Supported
Cultures with constant warfare will be associated with lower status of women (31)Not Supported
Cultures with constant warfare will be associated with higher status for women (31)Supported
Cultures with a high degree of institutionalized male solidarity will be associated with lower status for women (32)Not Supported
Matrilineal descent will be associated with higher status for women (33)Supported
Matrilocal postmarital residence rules will be associated with higher status for women (33)Supported
Large extended family households will be negatively associated with women's status; Nuclear family households will be positively associated with women's status (35)Not Supported
Presence of complex political hierarchies will be negatively associated with women's status (36)Partially supported
Private property rights in the means of production will be negatively associated with women's status (37)Supported
Greater complexity and differentiation will be associated with lower women's status (38)Supported
Classical religions will be negatively associated with women's status (41)Supported
A high degree of institutionalized envy between the sexes will be associated with low status of women (42)Not Supported
A high degree of institutionalized envy between the sexes will be associated with high status of women (42)Not Supported
Cultures with a shortage of women will be associated with higher women's status (43)Not Supported
Cultures with a high degree of male absence for long periods of time will be associated with higher status for women (43)Not Supported
Women's control of property will be positively associated with women's status (45)Not Supported
Cultures where women organize for economic activities will be positively associated with women's status (45)Not Supported
Women's contribution to subsistence will be positively associated with women's status (45)Not Supported
Women's contribution to subsistence will be negatively associated with women's status (46)Not Supported
Women's control over the fruits of productive labor will be positively associated with women's status (46)Not Supported
Polyandry and monogamy will be positively associated with higher status for women than polygyny.Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings