Origins of Sexism

For most of our history, we have been hunter-gatherers, and patrilocal residence is not the norm [blank] modern hunter-gatherer societies. Instead, either partner may move to live with the "in-laws", or a couple may relocate away from both their families. According [blank] the scientist, a degree of egalitarianism is built into these systems. If they reflect what prehistoric hunter-gatherers did, women in [blank] early societies would have had the choice of support from the group they grew up with, or the option to move away from oppression. According to one school of thought, things changed around 12,000 years ago. [blank] the advent of agriculture and homesteading, people began settling down. They acquired resources [blank] defend, and power shifted to the physically stronger males. Fathers, sons, uncles and grandfathers began living near each other, property [blank] passed down the male line, and female autonomy was eroded. As a result, the argument goes, patriarchy emerged.