In studies of human foraging populations, a persistent belief has been that hunting activities were carried out by men, while women were gatherers who stayed close to the home. In a new study in PLoS ONE, Dr. Cara Wall-Scheffler, Professor of Biology, and a team of four alumni student authors, provide evidence that historically, women in many foraging cultures played an active role in hunting. The alumni authors include Abbie Anderson (BS Physiology 2022), Sophia Chilczuk (BS Applied Human Biology 2021), Kaylie Nelson (BS Applied Human Biology 2021) and Roxy Ruther (BS Applied Human Biology 2021). An NPR story about this research features an interview with Dr. Wall-Scheffler, and this study has been featured by other media sites, including CNN and Forbes.
Posted: Thursday, July 6, 2023