Seminar

The origins of status inequality in an egalitarian society

Christopher Von Rueden (University of Richmond)

January 21, 2022, 16:00–17:00

Toulouse

Room Zoom

Abstract

In this talk, I will provide an overview of my work to-date on status hierarchy, and end with questions for which your input would be valuable. Much of what I've learned about status hierarchy has come from long-term research with the Tsimane' people of Amazonian Bolivia. Tsimane' communities are relatively egalitarian, lack significant material wealth, are largely ethnically homogeneous, and are small in size. These attributes make status hierarchy in their society useful for making inferences about the evolution of status hierarchy in human societies, prior to formal government or social stratification by wealth class and ethnicity. Furthermore, recently accelerated participation by the Tsimane' in the market economy is revealing the mechanisms which can exacerbate status inequality. I will discuss what attributes beget status in this population, with special attention to gender. I will also discuss more recent research on how social networks mediate change in status within communities. Finally, I will discuss my current work linking market participation to changes in status inequality.

Reference

Christopher Von Rueden (University of Richmond), The origins of status inequality in an egalitarian society, IAST General Seminar, Toulouse: IAST, January 21, 2022, 16:00–17:00, room Zoom.