When Europeans first set foot on the new continent they discovered that it had al-ready been settled. At some point ethnographers became interested in those aborigi-nal cultures. They intended to “cultivate” the “savages”. During those times hardly anyone was interested, let alone wrote about Native American women and the not unimportant part they played in this unknown culture. If women were mentioned at all, only their duties in the household were described. It is exactly this lack of interest that today makes it hard to get valid information about the life of Native American women at that time. This ignorance caused the white society to form a distorted picture, where the role of American Indian women matched the rather passive one white women had in their own society. They did not comprehend the importance the family represented as the central institution of society, nor the part women played outside the family, or the freedom they had and the rules they needed to obey. It was only in the 1920s, when the image of the “vanishing race” was created, that more material was collected about American Indian women. Stereotypes developed, because the information about America’s indigenous peo-ples was presented to us by a third person. This “medium” described the object of interest in his or her own Euro-centric terms and with a certain intention, in this case the want for the land the Natives inhabited. Then the information got generalized and eventually produced an image that mostly had nothing to do with the original object. The question therefore is: “How did and do Native women, along with others, cre-ate Native America?” (Klein & Ackerman: 3)
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Concepts of Society
- Egalitarian Societies
- Matrilineal Societies
- Women's Societies
- Organization of Society
- Marriage and Family
- Sexuality
- Ownership
- Hierarchy
- Work and Hunt
- Political Power
- Spirituality and Healing
- Cultural Domination
- Women Activism
- American Indian Movement (AIM)
- Women of All Red Nations (WARN)
- Pocahontas
- Historical Facts
- Images of Pocahontas
- Disney's Pocahontas
- The Movie Itself
- Different Opinions on "Pocahontas"
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of this text is to shed light on the often overlooked roles and contributions of women in Native American societies. It aims to challenge Eurocentric perceptions and reveal the complexities of women's lives and their influence within these communities.
- Egalitarianism and Reciprocity in Native American Societies
- The Importance of Women's Roles in Matrilineal and Egalitarian Societies
- The Variety and Significance of Women's Societies
- The Impact of Cultural Domination on Women's Lives
- The Importance of Challenging Stereotypes and Misconceptions
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The text begins by exploring the historical lack of attention given to Native American women and the resulting misconceptions about their roles. It then delves into the concepts of egalitarianism and reciprocity as fundamental pillars of many Native American societies, arguing that women were not powerless but held crucial positions within these communities. Chapter 3 focuses on the organization of Native American societies, examining marriage and family structures, sexuality, ownership, hierarchy, and the division of labor between men and women.
The following chapters discuss the political power wielded by Native American women, their role in spirituality and healing practices, and the impact of cultural domination on their lives. The text also highlights the activism of Native American women in movements like the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the Women of All Red Nations (WARN), showcasing their ongoing struggle for rights and recognition. Finally, it examines the historical figure of Pocahontas, exploring various interpretations of her life and the role she played in intercultural relations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The text centers around the key themes of Native American women, egalitarianism, matrilineal societies, women's societies, cultural domination, activism, and the historical figure of Pocahontas. It explores the importance of challenging Eurocentric perspectives and recognizing the diverse roles and contributions of Native American women throughout history.
- Quote paper
- Kristina Maul (Author), 2000, The role of women in Native American societies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/15030
