The Economist: The Plough and Now

The Economist: The plough and the now. July 23rd 2011

Summary:

Historical reasons for inequality: 

Possible reasons for the shift from female centered or equal opportunity cultures could be the invention or development of the plough.

Traditionally the hoe was used by women where as ploughs were used by men. Cultures with these historical roots tend to be more equal today.

In cultures with their roots in plough based cultures the women's role is diminished.

Key quotes:

"Women descended from plough-users are less likely to work outside the home, to be elected to parliament or to run businesses than their counterparts in countries at similar levels of development who happen to be descended from hoe-users."

"Only about a quarter of women in the Arab world work outside their homes, but 91% of women in Burundi do. In most industrialised countries the fraction ranges between half and three-fifths. But in countries like Rwanda, Botswana, Madagascar or Kenya, whose people are predominantly descended from hoe-users, women are far more likely to be in the labour force than those in historically plough-using places like India, Syria or Egypt."