The Contexts of Female Hunting in Central Africa

Abstract

This article examines female hunting among a group of Aka forest foragers (“pygmies”) of the Central African Republic 1 where women net‐hunt more frequently than men. The study aims to understand the contexts of female hunting and allay the paucity of descriptive and systematic studies of women hunters and gender task allocation among foragers. Contexts predicted from human behavioral ecology and cultural anthropology are considered and evaluated. Most of the contexts for female hunting predicted by the evolutionary and cultural theoretical orientations occurred among this group of Aka: game were relatively abundant, and women received relatively high caloric returns from hunting; game animals were acquired synchronously; hunting took place with other adults; Aka women had access to the means/technology of efficient hunting; Aka male ideological/political control of women was minimal; and cultural precedents existed that enabled women to obtain knowledge of and experience in hunting. Modifications to both evolutionary and cultural theories that deal with female hunting and gender task allocation among foragers are suggested, and an integrated approach is described. [ foragers, central Africa, sexual division of labor, women hunters ]