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Gender-Typed and Gender-Segregated Play Among Tanzanian Hadza and Congolese BaYaka Hunter-Gatherer Children and Adolescents.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Boyette, Adam H 
Crittenden, Alyssa N 
Hewlett, Barry S 
Lamb, Michael E 

Abstract

Few data exist on gender-typed and gender-segregated play in hunter-gatherer societies, despite their unique demographic and cultural features which may influence children's gendered play. Using naturalistic observations of Hadza (N = 46, 41% female) and BaYaka (N = 65, 48% female) hunter-gatherer 3- to 18-year-olds from Tanzania and the Republic of Congo, we showed that access to playmates was negatively associated with playing in mixed-gender groups. Young boys did not engage in more rough-and-tumble play than girls, but adolescent boys participated in this type of play more than adolescent girls. Children were also more likely to participate in work-themed play which conformed to gender norms within their society. Findings are discussed within the context of gendered division of labor, child autonomy, and demography.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Congo, Female, Gender Role, Humans, Male, Social Behavior, Social Segregation, Tanzania

Journal Title

Child Dev

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0009-3920
1467-8624

Volume Title

91

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Funding for data collection and writing was provided to SLL by the Cambridge International Trust, the SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship (Award no. 752-¬2016-¬0555), the Ruggles-Gates Fund for Anthropological Scholarship of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, the Smuts Memorial Fund, the Worts Travelling Grant, and the Cambridge School of Biological Sciences Fieldwork Fund.