Study reveals prehistoric women hunted just as often as men
And their anatomy made them better suited for it
The Female Quotient
August 12, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
WHAT’S ON DECK
Tell Me More: Ancient women did a lot more than we think
Troublemaker Spotlight: Devi Brown, Wellbeing Educator, Multidisciplinary Healer, Creative Advisor, Author, Host of “Deeply Well”
Dear FQ: I second-guess myself in high-stakes meetings
Poll the Pack: Where is the love?
TELL ME MORE
What if everything we thought we knew about traditional gender roles was wrong?
Yabba dabba ... what can’t women ... do?!? For decades, scientists believed that early humans had a strict division of labor. The image of prehistoric men hunting, while women gathered and cared for the children, has dominated our understanding of early humans. Recent research has uncovered a history of women hunters, questioning the evidence behind that long-held assumption. In fact, regardless of maternal status, women hunted in almost 80% of foraging societies.
Sarah Lacy, an anthropology professor at the University of Delaware, recently published research that has completely rewritten the prehistoric playbook.
Fossil evidence suggests that men and women had the same hunting injuries. Not to mention, women’s biology was built for hunting with higher levels of estrogen, an endurance-promoting hormone, perfectly suited for long-distance hunting. Also, female burial sites included hunting tools. But historically, when archaeologists found tools or weapons in a female’s grave, they assumed it was her husband’s, or that it was a ceremonial symbol of her place in the clan.
Researchers even found that women may have rivaled males when it came to taking down big game, but scientists have dismissed females’ hunting prowess because of researcher bias. This groundbreaking research highlights the crucial role women have always played in society.
“What we take as de facto gender roles today are not inherent, do not characterize our ancestors. We were a very egalitarian species for millions of years in many ways,” says Sarah.
Despite thousands of years of more fluid gender roles and shared responsibilities, modern society has convinced itself that women are "naturally" better at managing households, creating an impossible standard where women are expected to excel professionally, while still carrying the mental and emotional load at home. One study found that in 80% of different-sex couples, women take on the vast majority of the cognitive (AKA “invisible”) labor.
Ancient societies seemed to understand that this double burden was unsustainable, so how can we take a page from their centuries-old book? Understanding that rigid gender roles aren't "natural" or "traditional" helps us challenge modern inequities. The invisible labor that exhausts so many women today is a social construct we have the power to change. After all, history has shown us that equality is our natural state.
Maybe some parts of history should repeat themselves after all…
TROUBLEMAKER SPOTLIGHT
Devi Brown, Wellbeing Educator, Multidisciplinary Healer, Creative Advisor, Author, Host of “Deeply Well”
Devi Brown understood wellness before it was ever a buzzword. 10 years ago, when Devi left the entertainment industry, people dismissed her new line of work completely. Fast-forward to today, and Devi has become one of the most sought-after wellness educators in the country.
As host of the leading spirituality podcast, Deeply Well, Devi’s approach to healing has touched the lives of countless students, including renowned artists, athletes, and global executives. Previously Chief Impact Officer of Chopra Global, she's now founder of Devi Brown Well-Being and author of Crystal Bliss and Living in Wisdom.
FQ: What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?
Every piece of advice that fueled “Girlboss” culture on social media. It fed the myth that burnout is a badge of honor.
What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?
When I was 19, I was interning for a big executive in the music industry. It was a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, and he always treated me with respect. During a particularly hectic shoot, he turned to me and said, “One day, you could be my boss.”
It wasn’t just what he said. To be seen that way, so early in my career, changed everything. I’ve carried that moment with me into every room I’ve walked into since.
What was a “heartbeat moment” for you in your career?
I’d been working in broadcasting for over 10 years when it dawned on me that I was quickly falling out of love with that world. I realized that I wanted to help people who were suffering inside by focusing on wellness, well-being, and meditation.
Nobody understood this type of work back then. People thought it was something you only explored in the sunset of your life. I was usually the youngest person and only woman of color in those spaces. They would roll their eyes and joke about me "playing with rocks" or being "out there." It felt bizarre leaving a successful career for something no one else valued.
Despite this, I left the broadcasting industry and launched a wellness company called Karma Bliss. Almost immediately, I created a retail brand of crystals that went into Nordstrom retailers around the country. I became the first person who had ever sold crystals in a big box retailer at that time.
Now, after the pandemic, wellness is mainstream and everyone gets it.
Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey?
I would love to give this moment to my friend Charlemagne, the God who also did the foreword for my book, Living in Wisdom. He and I have known each other since we were both on the come-up in broadcasting. He has always been such an exceptional person, and has always had a deep and vast level of professionalism, dignity, and respect in the workplace.
I've never worked with someone who helps other people so much, especially women. He doesn't take credit for giving people substantial opportunity, he just does it effortlessly and doesn't ever push for any attention. It's motivated me to always look for ways to help other people rise.
Where have you caused trouble?
At the start of the pandemic, I was an executive at a global wellness company while running my own business. The wellness industry was expanding like the Wild West. I took the stand and required everyone I was working with to be trauma-informed.
We rebuilt a lot of our education with that in mind, because in previous teacher trainings, we didn't have extensive information for trainees about how to help people who may have had trauma or hard experiences. I helped create and write all of this, making sure that the people who used our tools learned how to use them.
Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.
DEAR FQ
Your burning career questions answered
Jamel Hughes of The Female Quotient weighs in:
You earned your seat at that table, and your perspective matters, especially in high-stakes moments.
Senior leaders didn't accidentally invite you; they need your insights to make better decisions. When you catch yourself second-guessing, here are a few things that might help:
1. Utilize research or data to support your idea. You don’t need a full PowerPoint presentation; even qualitative insights or examples from your experience can provide a solid foundation. When you have something concrete to reference, you'll feel more confident sharing your thoughts.
2. Remember that senior leaders are looking for solutions, not just agreement. Your point of view might be exactly what they need to see a blind spot.
3. Preparation is key. Take time to organize your thoughts, run your ideas by trusted colleagues, and practice saying them out loud before the meeting. Rehearsing not only builds confidence, it helps you refine your message and anticipate feedback.
4. Even senior leaders were once nervous about speaking up in meetings with their senior leaders. Confidence doesn’t mean you’re not nervous; it means you’ll speak up despite the nerves.
Remember: The room is better because you're in it.
P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.
POLL THE PACK
Are Employees Feeling the Love at Work?
TLDR: There’s room for improvement for most companies. Because when employees don't feel valued, companies lose innovation, creativity, and the kind of engagement that drives better business.
60% of employees fall into the "could be valued more" to "immensely under-valued" range. That's 3 in 5 people who feel their workplace is failing to meet the human need to be seen, heard, and appreciated.
Employees who feel valued have higher trust in leadership and increased confidence in the company. That trust is the foundation for everything else: Higher performance, better retention, and the willingness to go above and beyond. If companies put in the time, resources, and policies to close the appreciation gap, research shows that it’s better for their bottom line.
If you’re a leader, prioritize creating a culture where every person feels their contributions matter, from entry-level to senior executives.
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