This article discusses the fusion on two cultures in Mexico: the Spanish and the Native. This mixer of culture brought with it the mixer of it’s people. The offspring that sprung from the union of this fusion are called mestizo.
Mestizo has evolved over time. It is the rejuvenation of culture and respect of and the rights to land. The pride shown by this now ever growing group has countered the government in Mexico. They believe there should be a redefinition of the traditional relationships between the state and indigenous people. This proposition was in hopes of destroying the practice of discrimination and the state’s neglect of development around the issue of indigenous identity. Today’s Mexico stresses the survival of the indigenous societies, thus creating a unified nation.
With the fusion of these cultures, a class structure has developed. There are three levels/classes for women in Mexico. The status is usually unchangeable and determines your educational opportunities and role with the society. Native women are looked to with more respect because of their close ties to their tribes. The keep their native tongue, tradition and culture alive. These carry the burden of their people into the current context of society, completely aware of their marginalization within the system. These women are fighting their rights, to land and life.
September 22, 2008
Unsettling Settler Societies: Gender, Racializing and Classifying: Settler Colonization in the United States, 1590-1990 ~ Dolores Janiewski
This article identified 4 major cultural groups living within the borders of the United States. Though, there are many more the author choices to analyze these four groups: Native American, Mexican American, African American, and Euro-American.
When the United States was colonized it isolated the “other”. The other was anyone that was not with, and thus did not gain citizenship. This lack in assimilation to the National Identity aided in the “others” survival within the borders of America.
When reading the experiences, expectations and roles that these groups had with America, a common thread bond them together; the women’s role. Throughout all four ethnic groups the women were expected and had control or authority over the domestic chores of the household. “ wives owed their husbands obedience and smooth operation of the household in return for the financial support needed to purchase the necessities if the life” (pg. 139).
When the United States was colonized it isolated the “other”. The other was anyone that was not with, and thus did not gain citizenship. This lack in assimilation to the National Identity aided in the “others” survival within the borders of America.
When reading the experiences, expectations and roles that these groups had with America, a common thread bond them together; the women’s role. Throughout all four ethnic groups the women were expected and had control or authority over the domestic chores of the household. “ wives owed their husbands obedience and smooth operation of the household in return for the financial support needed to purchase the necessities if the life” (pg. 139).
September 21, 2008
Unsettling Settlers Society: the fractous politics of a settler society: canada, Ch.4
I found it interesting that to this day Quebec hasn’t signed the Canadian Constitutions. It wanted more provincial autonomy and power then what the Federal Government was proposing. I was under the impression that all providence either: all providences had signed the constitution and acknowledged the nation, or had their own providential constitution that reinforced that providence’s identity and values.
In the colonization of Canada, the mindset was British. The new nation took on the British identity, in turn leaving out the aboriginal people as well as the French. The Charelottetown Accord was proposed to help address the rejection on the aboriginal people in the colonization period. This Accord had a “Canada Clause” which expressed the fundamental Canadian values, which included the aboriginals and distinct societies. Thus, creating a 3rd government within the borders of Canada, this allowed aboriginals’ to governor themselves. This Accord was voted down by Canada.
Basically, Canada has a fragmented political culture due to the lack of national unity. Canada’s many races, immigrants, aboriginals and native cultures have distorted the national identity, or lack there of.
In the colonization of Canada, the mindset was British. The new nation took on the British identity, in turn leaving out the aboriginal people as well as the French. The Charelottetown Accord was proposed to help address the rejection on the aboriginal people in the colonization period. This Accord had a “Canada Clause” which expressed the fundamental Canadian values, which included the aboriginals and distinct societies. Thus, creating a 3rd government within the borders of Canada, this allowed aboriginals’ to governor themselves. This Accord was voted down by Canada.
Basically, Canada has a fragmented political culture due to the lack of national unity. Canada’s many races, immigrants, aboriginals and native cultures have distorted the national identity, or lack there of.
September 15, 2008
Indian Women as Cultural Mediators ~ Clara Kidwell
Kidwell’s article addresses the historical insufficiencies of the depiction of Native American women in United States history (i.e. Pocahontas, Sacagawea, and Nancy Ward). After a brief history lesson of their mythical as well as actual life stories, Kidwell asks if we will ever know who these women truly were, what were their motivates, what was their intent.
Within this article, Kidwell uses, reoccurring terms for these women to describe their roles with the native society as well as the new colonial context. Labels such translator, diplomat, mediator, and a sign of peace are strong indicators that the role of the native women was one of importance to not only the white man but the tribe as well. Why is it then that only a few such women are glorified in U.S. history?
I also found it interesting in reference to Pocahontas and Sacagawea’s stories that these “powerful” women were seen as possessions by both the tribes they came from and by the white settler as well, yet in history are depicted as independent women that tamed the west and guided a civilization into the wild. Women, and in particular native women, have always been balancing a life in the context of an object to more recently a subject.
Within this article, Kidwell uses, reoccurring terms for these women to describe their roles with the native society as well as the new colonial context. Labels such translator, diplomat, mediator, and a sign of peace are strong indicators that the role of the native women was one of importance to not only the white man but the tribe as well. Why is it then that only a few such women are glorified in U.S. history?
I also found it interesting in reference to Pocahontas and Sacagawea’s stories that these “powerful” women were seen as possessions by both the tribes they came from and by the white settler as well, yet in history are depicted as independent women that tamed the west and guided a civilization into the wild. Women, and in particular native women, have always been balancing a life in the context of an object to more recently a subject.
September 8, 2008
The “Squaw Drudge” ~ a prime index of savagism
Before reading this article my understanding of savagism was based off of my exposures to popular cultural (i.e. Disney’s Pocahontas, and Dr. Quinn Medicine Women). To be savagism, in my understanding prior to this reading, was to disposed and driven to war or violence; to be consumed with the natural order of the earth in all perspectives of one’s life. However after reading this article I have learned that perhaps savagism is different then the picture painted by the television shows I had watched.
David D. Smith’s article defines savagism by giving excerpts from a variety of writings and paintings from the time period of North America’s colonization. I am particularly interested in examining and discussing three quotes from this article that believe hit at the basics of Smith’s articles.
Meriwether Lewis in M’Vickar 1847 writes, “Where women can aid in procuring food, they are treated with more equality, and their importance is proportioned to the share which that in the labour.” Lewis is referring to the native women he observed in his expedition. Within the native’s society every person has a role, including women. Though to the White colonizer the role of a woman is not seen as labours, and the depiction of native men hunting and fishing seemed as idle play not hard work. Thus a conflict of gender roles began. The lady of leisure was what white women aspired to be as well as set the standard for a civilized nation. To put a woman to hard work was seen as savage and degrading in eyes of the White Westerner, but as a sign of respect and value in the native world.
Theodore Roosevelt (1936) had this view on civilization, “No high order of civilization is possible without the advancement and independence of women; and in fact, the present progress of each nation and people from the utmost degradation to the highest enlightenment, can be fairly and accurately measured by the condition of its women.” It would follow, that a woman that is consulted and an integral part of her society would indicate a higher level of civilization then a culture that had no use or purpose for the woman. In my interpretation of Roosevelt’s quote, a society that consults with its women is more advanced then one that caters or requires them to be idle.
Orison Marden (in Wyllie 1954) a leading publicist for the gospel of success believes, “The genius which has accomplished great things in the world, as a rule, is the genius for downright hard work, persistent drudgery. This is the genius that had transformed the world, and led civilization from the rude devices of the Hottentots to the glorious achievements of our own century.” Marden himself is endorsing hard work. Hard work from all citizens will bring the world success.
From these quotes it seems to follow that women are cherished when they fulfill their duties. The lady of leisure is a luxury role that many Western women could never attain because to survive and to uphold society everyone has a role to play. The elite few whom attain the status were, in the eyes of the native, the ones that deserve less respect and resources an example of culture clash.
David D. Smith’s article defines savagism by giving excerpts from a variety of writings and paintings from the time period of North America’s colonization. I am particularly interested in examining and discussing three quotes from this article that believe hit at the basics of Smith’s articles.
Meriwether Lewis in M’Vickar 1847 writes, “Where women can aid in procuring food, they are treated with more equality, and their importance is proportioned to the share which that in the labour.” Lewis is referring to the native women he observed in his expedition. Within the native’s society every person has a role, including women. Though to the White colonizer the role of a woman is not seen as labours, and the depiction of native men hunting and fishing seemed as idle play not hard work. Thus a conflict of gender roles began. The lady of leisure was what white women aspired to be as well as set the standard for a civilized nation. To put a woman to hard work was seen as savage and degrading in eyes of the White Westerner, but as a sign of respect and value in the native world.
Theodore Roosevelt (1936) had this view on civilization, “No high order of civilization is possible without the advancement and independence of women; and in fact, the present progress of each nation and people from the utmost degradation to the highest enlightenment, can be fairly and accurately measured by the condition of its women.” It would follow, that a woman that is consulted and an integral part of her society would indicate a higher level of civilization then a culture that had no use or purpose for the woman. In my interpretation of Roosevelt’s quote, a society that consults with its women is more advanced then one that caters or requires them to be idle.
Orison Marden (in Wyllie 1954) a leading publicist for the gospel of success believes, “The genius which has accomplished great things in the world, as a rule, is the genius for downright hard work, persistent drudgery. This is the genius that had transformed the world, and led civilization from the rude devices of the Hottentots to the glorious achievements of our own century.” Marden himself is endorsing hard work. Hard work from all citizens will bring the world success.
From these quotes it seems to follow that women are cherished when they fulfill their duties. The lady of leisure is a luxury role that many Western women could never attain because to survive and to uphold society everyone has a role to play. The elite few whom attain the status were, in the eyes of the native, the ones that deserve less respect and resources an example of culture clash.
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