1. The idea of ​​equality when referring to egalitarian societies is used to describe the fact that these societies do not have a formal division of power or access to resources like other societies might have. That is, no group will be prevented from accessing resources. Everyone will have access to food and other necessary resources. For example, in Annette B. Weiner's “Marriage and the Politics of Sweet Potatoes,” we learn that every single married woman in the Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea is guaranteed sweet potatoes, which have both monetary value and subsistence uses, but some women will get more sweet potatoes because they have more people tending the sweet potato gardens for whatever reason. All women will have access to the same resources, and some women and their spouses will have access to more abundant resources, but no one will be denied access based on class or rank. Therefore this does not mean that there is no discrepancy between people within an egalitarian society. People may have access to more resources or possess more prestige based on age, ability, and sometimes gender. However, nothing in egalitarian societies is decided by formal inheritance. There may be leaders of the group who are in that position because they have proven themselves to be a capable leader, and when they die their son or daughter may be considered for a similar position, however there is no guarantee that they will get the position. And it's not even guaranteed that there will be a leader of any kind. The group could make all the decisions if that's how society works. We see an example of an ability to elevate one's status within an egalitarian context in the article “Parent-Child Conflict in Marriage” by Polly Wiessner. In the article Wiessner discusses the fact that parents are... middle of paper ......responsible for making sure their people pay tributes (i.e. taxes) and for negotiating with other groups (i.e. foreign affairs ). However, the fact that the office is hereditary is the exact opposite of how the American political system works. Term limits also provide a major difference between chiefdoms and the modern American political system. A leader remains in power until he dies or is killed, but most American political officials in the legislative and executive branches are only there for 2-6 years at a time, and some have a chance of being re-elected. The fact that chiefs hold office for life is similar to the fact that justices of the United States Supreme Court hold their office as long as they see fit or until death. However, in the American political system, none are present for hereditary reasons. Presumably everyone comes to office on their own initiative.