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.
September 22, 2008
Unsettling Settler Societies: Miscegenation as Nation building: Indian and Immigrant women in Mexico. ~Natividad Gutierrz
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.
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
