# Hunter-gatherers: Equality's Hidden Costs

> Hunter-gatherer societies aren't perfect equals: self-interest drives resource sharing.
- Title: Hunter-gatherers: Equality's Hidden Costs · The Conversation
- Summary: Hunter-gatherer societies aren't perfect equals: self-interest drives resource sharing. Hunter-gatherer societies maintain equality through self-interested…
- Keywords: hadza, tsimane, hunter-gatherers, social inequality, egalitarianism, tanzania, b bolivia, kudu, food sharing, community decision making, science, ideas
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/hunter-gatherer-societies-are-often-put-on-a-pedestal-as-paragons-of-equality-but-the-reality-is-more-complicated-289009
- Author: Christopher von Rueden
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: hadza, tsimane, hunter-gatherers, social inequality, egalitarianism, tanzania, b bolivia, kudu, food sharing, community decision making, science, ideas
## Egalitarian myth
Hunter-gatherer societies are often praised as perfect equals, but reality shows hidden inequalities.

> Hunter-gatherers are often at the center of heated academic battles about what it means to be human
## Kudu hunt in Tanzania
A Hadza hunter takes down a kudu, cuts its poisoned arrow, hides the carcass from hyenas, and returns home.

> A kudu post-butchering, with portions going to various community members.
## Post-hunt sharing
The community divides the kudu carcass, carries it back, and shares meat with families across miles.

> Every family gets some, and after the meat is cooked, there’s more sharing still.
## Inequality exists
Hunter-gatherer societies have hidden inequalities in food, leadership, and gender roles despite sharing practices.

> The Bayaka of the central African rainforest had little material inequality, yet they bought, sold and hoarded ritual knowledge.
## Gender roles
Tanzanian Hadza give meat cuts exclusively to older men and respect better hunters more.

> Across societies, women have universally done more direct parenting, and men have participated more frequently in community-level decision-making.
## Self-interest drives equality
Equality emerges from self-interested demands and ridicule of greedy individuals, not generosity.

> It can involve more taking than giving, often through strongly stated demands or complaints.
## Community decision making
The Tsimane use community deliberation to reach decisions, with everyone having a voice.

> Ridicule and mockery are ubiquitous in industrialized societies, from political cartoons to social media.
## Equality as process
Egalitarianism works through self-interested processes, not perfect equality or noble ideals.

> If you consider egalitarianism as equality-creating processes, you can see that it is a widespread reality among hunter-gatherer societies, and beyond.
## Key takeaway

Hunter-gatherer societies maintain equality through self-interested resource sharing, not noble ideals.