Smith’s book sheds light on the inherently oppressive definitions of sexual violence, especially towards indigenous women. Sexual violence is a tool. It can be traced back to colonial times. It enforces the patriarchy and colonial goals, of exploration of the Native community.
Sexual violence destroys people (and communities), it destroys their sense of identity, their understanding of a person. This violence is a tool for genocide. It labels indigenous people as “rapable”. For example, environmental racism targets Native women. Because of government land confiscation of native communities and because of environmental population, native women are feeling the effect. Their bodies, are being poisoned, their families being pulled apart and so.
“The project of colonial sexual violence established the ideology the Native bodies are inherently violable—and by extension, that Native lands are also inherently violable”. Sexual violence on Native women is an attack on her identity as well as an attack on her being Native; reinforcing the colonial thought that it is a sin to be Indian.
October 6, 2008
Gender in Inuit Society
Eskimo-ian society, from a western perspective, depicts the Inuit women as lower status then men. The women were in complete domination of their male relatives. However, women are equal to men, just not the same. Meaning their tasks and responsibilities are designed to their skill set, such as skin work and household maintenance.
In some Inuit societies, wives are only used for sex. The men spend most of their days with other men. Their wives serve the purpose of having children, raising children, keeping the house and pleasing the man. A wives importance rest on her ability to complete her task.
However, Inuit women, though under complete domination of their male relatives, are relatively free. The men have little to no reason to interfere with woman’s conduct of her chores (i.e. the household) as long as it meets her husband’s standard.
Though, women usually exercised little to no control over their sexual habits, women could no take a husband she did not want. Furthermore, she could divorce him by simply packing her things and leaving. A woman and her children still maintain rights to the ex-husband’s clan/family.
In some Inuit societies, wives are only used for sex. The men spend most of their days with other men. Their wives serve the purpose of having children, raising children, keeping the house and pleasing the man. A wives importance rest on her ability to complete her task.
However, Inuit women, though under complete domination of their male relatives, are relatively free. The men have little to no reason to interfere with woman’s conduct of her chores (i.e. the household) as long as it meets her husband’s standard.
Though, women usually exercised little to no control over their sexual habits, women could no take a husband she did not want. Furthermore, she could divorce him by simply packing her things and leaving. A woman and her children still maintain rights to the ex-husband’s clan/family.
The Five Sexes: Why Make and Female are not Enough
I found this article interesting because it is about a subject that rarely gets discussed. In the U.S. mainstream society there are only two sexes which, according to Anne, defies nature. This article challenges the status quo and argues that sex is a continuum that does not conform to the binary system of the US.
Currently, 4% of the births in the US are intersexual. The infant usually always is medically treated for the biological defect. Anne presents this subject as if the doctors are medically policing the intersexual infants, forcing conformity into the binary sexual system. Anne doesn’t seem to object too much to this practice, but later in the article she explains that most intersexual beings do not want to be medically changed. They are more worried about developing some sort of aliment, or disease.
Currently, 4% of the births in the US are intersexual. The infant usually always is medically treated for the biological defect. Anne presents this subject as if the doctors are medically policing the intersexual infants, forcing conformity into the binary sexual system. Anne doesn’t seem to object too much to this practice, but later in the article she explains that most intersexual beings do not want to be medically changed. They are more worried about developing some sort of aliment, or disease.
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