Understanding Indigenous Gender Relations and Violence: Becoming Gender AWAke

Description

This book focuses on the inequities that are persistently and disproportionately severe for Indigenous peoples. Gender and racial based inequities span from the home life to Indigenous women’s wellness―including physical, mental, and social health. The conundrum of how and why Indigenous women―many of whom historically held respected and even held sacred status in many matrilineal and female-centered communities―now experience the highest rates of gendered based violence is focal to this work. Unlike Western European and colonial contexts, Indigenous societies tended to be organized in fundamentally distinct ways that were woman-centered and where gender roles and values were reportedly more egalitarian, fluid, flexible, inclusive, complementary, and harmonious. Understanding how Indigenous gender relations were targeted as a tool of patriarchal settler colonization and how this relates to women more broadly can be a key to unlocking gender liberation―a catalyst for readers to become ‘gender AWAke.’ Living gender AWAke encompasses living in alignment with agility (AWA) with clear awareness of how gender and other sociostructural factors affect daily life, as well as how to navigate such factors. To live in alignment, is to live from ones’ center and in accordance with one’s authentic self, with agility, by nimbly responding to life’s constantly shifting situations. This empirically grounded work extends and deepens the Indigenist framework of historical oppression, resilience, and transcendence (FHORT) by delving deep into the resilience, transcendence, and wellness components of FHORT while centering gender. Understanding the changing gender roles for Indigenous peoples over time fosters decolonization more broadly by enabling greater understanding of how sexism and misogyny hurt people across personal and political spheres. This understanding can foster the process of becoming gender AWAke by identifying and dismantling of sexism and by becoming decolonized from prescriptive gender roles that inhibit living in alignment with one’s true or authentic self.   Readers will gain: a research-based approach linking historical oppression, gender-based inequities, and violence against Indigenous womenunderstanding of how patriarchal colonialism undermines all genders a tool to dismantle sexism more broadlypathways to become Gender AWAke through the understanding of Indigenous women's resilience and transcendence Dedication and Acknowledgment Preface Overview and Structure of This Book Contents Decolonization from Prescriptive Gender Roles and Sexism: Living Gender AWAke Personal Reflexivity References Patriarchy and Its Handmaid—Sexism An Introduction to Sexism, Misogyny, the Patriarchy, and Its Consequences Understanding the Patriarchy, Sexism, and Misogyny How Socialization Matters Challenges to Overcoming Patriarchal Oppression Persistent Gender Imbalances for Women with Children Personal Reflexivity References Part I: The Problem—How Settler Colonial Structures of Historical Oppression Drive Gender-Based Inequities and Violence and Strategies Toward Emancipation Introduction and Application of the Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) to Gender-Based Violence The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) Historical Oppression Rezilience/Resilience Framework Applications Societal, Community, and Cultural Risk and Protective Factors Familial Risk and Protective Factors Relational and Individual Risk and Protective Factors Conclusion References How Did It Happen? A Case Example of the Incremental, Cumulative, and Massive Efforts of Historical Oppression to Reverse Indigenous Women’s Roles and Statuses The Tension Between Historical Oppression and Resilience Women’s Status Prior to Colonization Colonization and Constrained Women’s Roles References Divides, Disruptions, and Gendered Rearrangements: How Historical Oppression Impairs Communities and Contributes to Violence Patriarchal Colonialism Historical Trauma Historical Oppression: A Critical Framework Results Summary and Discussion Rezilience, Survivance, and Liberation References Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression: Experiences and Consequences of Gendered IPV and Sexual Violence Experiences Part 1: Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression That Perpetuate Violence Part 2: What About Sexual Violence? Experiences and Consequences of Gendered Sexual Violence Experiences The FHORT and Sexual Violence Against Indigenous Women Impact of Sexual Violence The FHORT’s Resilience and Transcendence: Relational and Spiritual Protective Factors Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression: Barriers to Justice for Violence Survivors Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References How Historical Oppression Undermines Families and Drives Risk for Violence Risk Factors Related to Family Affected by Violence Historical Oppression as a Risk Factor for Violence in Families Results Summary Relational and Situational Factors Related to IPV Historical Oppression and Violence in Families Conclusion References Interlocking Experiences of Violence Across Women’s Life Connections Between Childhood Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence Factors Associated with Violent Victimization Historical Oppression of Indigenous Women Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References How Patriarchal Gender Roles, Early Childbearing (ECB), and Early Marriage (EM) Contribute to IPV ECB and EM Understanding ECB and EM Through the Theoretical FHORT ECB and EM Among US Indigenous Peoples Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Understanding Indigenous Women’s Experiences and Barriers to Liberation From Violence Part 1: Indigenous Women’s Experiences of IPV Critical Theory and IPV Indigenous Women’s Experiences of IPV Results Summary Conclusion Part 2: Barriers to Emancipation From IPV The FHORT and Violence Against Indigenous Women Results Summary and Discussion References Patriarchal Gender Roles: Interconnections with Violence, Historical Oppression, and Resilience Theoretical Background: The FHORT Theorizing Patriarchal Gender Role Attitudes Through the FHORT Patriarchal Gender Role Attitudes: Victim Blaming Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Gender Inequities in Home Life: Moms “Mostly Pulling the Weight” Power Asymmetry in Home Life and the FHORT Division of Labor and Gender Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Gendered Differences in Experiences of Violence and Violence Perpetration Ecological Risk Factors with FHORT Results Summary Discussion References Consequences of Violence on Women, Children, and Families Consequences of IPV on Indigenous Women, Children, and Families Consequences of IPV on Women Consequences of IPV on Children and Families Interconnections Among Consequences: An Intergenerational Cycle Results Summary and Discussion References Tipping the Balance: Violence Across the Life Course and Socioeconomic Strain Posing Risks While Family and Social Support Offsetting Anxiety and Depression Depression, Anxiety, and IPV Social Support and Resilience Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Understanding Depression as an Embodiment of Historical Oppression and Ways to Transcend Results Summary and Discussion References Land, Loss, and Violence: Contemporary Manifestations of Historical Oppression PTSD and Disaster Results Summary and Discussion References Part II: Woman-Centered and Gender Expansive Protective Pathways Family and Culture as Structures for Resilience, Resistance, and Transcendence from Violence Family and Cultural Protective Factors Related to Indigenous Women’s Resilience Indigenous Family Structure Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Bending But Not Breaking: Resilience of Women Survivors of Violence Resilience Among Indigenous Peoples Individual Aspects of Resilience Spirituality and Faith Resilience Perspectives and Inner Strength Results Summary and Discussion References What to Do Now? Listening and Learning from Survivors and Professionals Affected by Violence Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Result and Discussion References Understanding Gender and Connections Between Mental, Physical, Social, and Community, Cultural Health Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “We Never Go Hungry There Cause My Mom Uses the Resource of the Land”: Returning to Sacred Roots of Subsistence to Promote Wellness and Resilience A Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) to Understand Well-Being Historical Oppression and Subsistence Resilience and Well-Being Subsistence and Well-Being Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Understanding Interconnections and Factors Driving Gendered Mental Health Inequities PTSD Depression Suicide SUD Comorbidity and Multimorbidity: SUD and Depression/Anxiety/Suicide Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Cultural, Community, Familial, and Individual Factors Related to Wellness Among Youth Societal Factors Historical Oppression Perceived Discrimination Cultural Factors Ethnic Identity Spirituality Connectedness Community Factors Community Environment School Environment Peer Influence Social Support Familial Factors Family Support Family Income Parental Mental Health Family Trauma and Stressful Life Events Individual Factors Discussion Conclusion References Family Resilience: Resisting and Offsetting Historical Oppression While Transcending Conceptualizing Family Resilience Discussion Conclusion References Decolonizing Family Connectedness Enhancing Family Resilience The Protective Role of Family Connectedness Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “Your Kids Come First”: Plugged in and Protective Parenting Practices Promoting Resilience The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) Indigenous Cultural Perspectives on Parenting Parenting in High-Risk Environments Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “Trust Us Enough to Come to Us”: Communication as a Building Block of Family Resilience The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “He Had Rules and He Had Guidelines”: Establishing Family Accountability and Structure The FHORT, Family Resilience, and Positive Parental Disciplinary Practices Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Love: A Decolonizing Act of Rebellion to Promote Family Resilience and Reduce Alcohol Use Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “They Called [Great Grandmother] the Famous Storyteller Around Here”: Elders Transcending Historical Oppression Through Language, Story, and Culture Language, Elders, and Family Time Promoting Enculturation and Resilience Elders and the Oral Tradition as Protective Factors Indigenous Language(s) as Protective Factors for Mental Health Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “She Always Knows What to Do”: Mothers Maintaining Central Roles in Family Theoretical Background The Prominence of Resilient Native Women Prior to Colonization Historical Oppression: Reversing Matrilineal Roles and Imposing Patriarchy Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References “We’ve Kind of Always Come Together”: Humanizing, Complementary, Fluid, Balanced, and Transcendent Gender Roles to Move Forward Changing Gender Roles in US Families Impact of Patriarchal Colonialism on Indigenous Families Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence “Doing Gender” and “Doing Family” Results Summary and Discussion Conclusion References Tying It All Together: Living Gender AWAke References Appendix: Table of Chapters, Key Words, Abstracts, and Discussion Questions Index