Indigenous & North american frameworks of sexuality and gender Flashcards
What does the term “Two-Spirit” represent?
- umbrella term developed in 1990 to describe the diverse gender identities of Indigenous North American peoples, which often go beyond the binary of man and woman.
- recognized 3-4 genders, with distinct identities varying by nation.
Why are Indigenous people more likely to identify as trans or non-binary?
Indigenous people aged 15+ are twice as likely to be trans or non-binary compared to non-Indigenous people, partly reflecting their younger average age.
What roles did Two-Spirit individuals traditionally hold in their communities?
often healers, warriors, matchmakers, and performed tasks typically associated with both men and women.
How did colonialism impact Two-Spirit identities?
Colonialism and residential schools imposed homophobia and the gender binary, stripping Indigenous peoples of their spiritual gender diversity.
What cultural shift occurred in 2016 regarding Two-Spirit inclusion?
Indigenous communities began a cultural shift back to inclusion, reclaiming Two-Spirit identities as sacred traditions.
How did the Indian Removal Act of 1830 affect Indigenous gender norms?
forced Indigenous peoples to conform to European ways of life, introducing rigid gender roles and Christianity.
What is the significance of tribal courts?
Tribal courts, as sovereign entities, decide on laws like same-sex marriage, with 26 tribes allowing it and 11 prohibiting it
How did farming change gender roles in Indigenous communities?
Farming for subsistence made men the heads of households and prohibited women from farming activities, reinforcing rigid gender norms.
What challenges do Indigenous individuals face today?
- high rates of poverty
- joblessness
- homelessness
- substance abuse
- Native Americans twice as likely to commit suicide as the national average.
What is the difference between traditional and Westernized understandings of Two-Spirit identities?
Traditional terms like “Winkte” referred to defying gender roles, while Westernized terms often stress sexual identification.
Which group in the U.S. has the highest rate of identifying as something other than exclusively straight?
Indigenous women.
What is the range of child sexual abuse rates among Indigenous children? O’brien
From less than 1% to 66% for boys and 7% to 96% for girls.
Why is accountability for abuse difficult in Indigenous communities? O’Brien
Due to community codes of silence and mistrust of police.
How much more likely are Indigenous women to be victims of rape or homicide compared to others? O’Brien
- 5x more likely
- Perpetrators are almost never indigenous
What are some colonial impacts on Indigenous women? O’Brien
Missing and murdered Indigenous women, forced sterilizations, and the removal of traditional respect and governing roles.
How was gender conceptualized in Indigenous cultures? O’Brien
Gender and sexuality were important but conceptualized differently, sometimes binary or less binary, but not hierarchically.
What does the quote, “When you pick up the values of the outside people, you also pick up their (social) diseases,” suggest? O’Brien
Adopting colonial values brought societal issues like violence into Indigenous communities.
What was the position of women in indigenous groups before colonisation? O’Brien
controlled certain areas of indigenous economies, owned the products of their labour, and held positions within social and political decision making
–> helped to ensure their safety, voice and influence.
What is the foundation for recovery and healing in Indigenous communities? O’Brien
Spirituality
How is Indigenous gender connected to land? Robinson
Indigenous gender and identities are rooted in the relationship with the land, which shapes culture, language, and identity.
How did residential schools and the forced assimilation of Indigenous children impact Indigenous gender systems? Robinson
imposed binary gender roles, eliminated Indigenous languages, and enforced Settler-defined gender practices, erasing traditional gender systems.
What was the role of Indigenous languages in gender systems, as reported by Spotted Eagle? Robinson
Indigenous languages had specific dialects for men, women, and ceremonies, with two-spirit individuals often speaking all three.
What is one issue with the term “two-spirit”? Robinson
homogenizes distinct gender identities across nations and may overwrite traditional terms, undermining Indigenous language survival
Why might “coming out” not be relevant to Indigenous two-spirit individuals? Robinson
Two-spirit identity emphasizes “coming in,” affirming interdependence and one’s place in their family, community, and culture.
What does the term “nádleehí” acknowledge about gender? Robinson
reflects the idea that change is constant, accommodating flexible and evolving Indigenous gender roles.
How did participants in the Trans PULSE study differ from non-Indigenous participants regarding medical transition? Robinson
- Indigenous participants were more likely to start or complete medical transition
- transition may be more significant to Indigenous trans people, possibly as a response to colonial violence and gender policing
- continues to shape Indigenous gender through intergenerational trauma, shame
