According to a US study, the role of women was fundamental in creating the bond between dog and human being
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himAccording to a US study, the role of women was fundamental in creating the bond between dog and human being.
Several factors have played an important role in the mutually beneficial relationship between dogs and humans. Hunting, cold and, surprisingly, the genre too. A study recently published in the Journal of Ethnobiology reveals how the coevolution of humans and dogs has been disproportionately influenced by the relationships of these animals with women.
"We found that dog relationships with women may have had a greater impact on the dog-human bond than relationships with men," said Jaime Chambers, PhD student in anthropology at Washington State University and lead author of the study.
Since humans and dogs took advantage of this relationship, it was believed that the process took place "by mutual agreement" and that the dog's primary function was to aid in the hunt. However, this study highlights, for the first time, the pivotal role of women in the early stages of this relationship. That is why perhaps it would be correct to refer to our four-legged friends as a woman's best friend.
“Humans were more likely to view dogs as a type of person if they had a special relationship with women. They were more likely to be included in family life, treated as subjects of affection, and generally appreciated more by people, ”adds Chambers.
The study researchers analyzed a large collection of ethnographic records in Yale University's Human Relation Area Files database, in which thousands of mentions of dogs are found and in many of the stories the protagonists are women. In fact, it was they who gave their pets names, treated them like people, and even suffered when they died.
It would appear that hunting also helped to strengthen the dog-human connection since, in cultures where they used to hunt with dogs, their human companions appreciated them more. However, when food production increased, whether for agriculture or for raising livestock, the usefulness of the dogs decreased. This situation did not alter the dog-woman relationship which kept the bond unchanged even when the dogs were less needed.
Having a pet in the family can improve the quality of life and help improve people's physical and mental health. This the women had understood from the beginning.
Fonte: Washington State University
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