Historical Challenges That Native American Women Have...

Martha Garcia and Paula Gunn Allen both write in their essays of the challenges that Native American women have historically faced and continue to confront to this day. Major contributors to these challenges are the stereotypes and misconceptions by white male anthropologists and missionaries who studied the Native American tribes and found the women subservient and passive. Both of these authors strongly disagree in this characterization of Native American women and instead portray them as important and honored members of their tribes who will struggle but will continue to have a tremendous impact on the future of their tribes. Garcia’s research concentrates on previously published works on Cheyenne women by white men and†¦show more content†¦From her research, Garcia found that Cheyenne women had visions, dreams, participated in sweat lodges and shared equally in performing traditional native activities right along with the men of the tribe. Paula G unn Allen’s article compliments and expands on Garcia’s article by revealing the important role Native American women play in their people’s physical and cultural survival. Due to the United States Government’s policies, she strongly believes the Native American population faces extinction, while some tribes have already disappeared. Gunn Allen is passionate in her description of Native American women who are on the front battle lines for the very survival of their children, people, self-respect, value systems, and they’re way of life. Gunn Allen sums up the ongoing struggle beautifully when she shares a personal reflection of , â€Å"We bond, we care, we fight, we teach, we nurse, we bear, we feed, we earn, we laugh, we love, we hang in there, no matter what.† Although Gunn Allen emphasizes the fighting spirit of the Native American women, she acknowledges that some women have given up and have turned to alcohol, drugs and even suic ide in an effort to stop the pain of poverty and abuse. Still other Native American women struggle to fight the addictions of their family and friends. Some women choose to give up by assimilating into the white world and cut ties forever with their own culture. While Garcia writes of past historical equality andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Howard Zinn s The Mind Behind Dozens Of Books 1381 Words   |  6 Pagesincluded in the retelling of a historical event. A man who recognized history is collection of a variety of voices was Howard Zinn. 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