One of the most important features of Laia was that it required communal work, public work or neighborhood work. Usually two or more families worked together on each other’s land and then on each other’s. All family members participated without gender segregation. For the most part this way of sowing the land turned into a party, often involving children as well. This form of crop work rewarded collaboration between families, and helped keep the community together, unlike any other factor.
As mentioned another important feature of Laia was that there was no gender discrimination and it undermined equality. As can be seen in the drawing, women and men worked together even though Laia was very hard, as she did not require the strength needed in the dominance of the plow or the animals. According to anthropologists, the control of shooting and agricultural animals was an important factor for men to dominate women in agricultural societies. Mountain women did not address this labor disadvantage, which could have helped in other areas, such as hereditary habits, reaffirm women’s equality.
LAIA: Basque instrument made of iron with a wooden end, used to till the earth and stir it. It has two points, and at the top of the cape it has a crossed handle, which is grasped with both hands to tighten with them at the same time that it is tightened with the foot.
