|
Both
of your observations are correct
and they aren't in conflict
with one another. Much feminist
research as been done on the
Iroquios Confederacy. Most such
research has been done by Sally
Roesch Wagner in relationship
to her research on Matilda Josilyn
Gage. Her conclusion and Gage's
experiences point to the fact
that the Iroquois Confederacy
was actually an egalitarian
society where women made decisions
about war and gathering was
as valued as hunting. So in
this instance, women seem to
have been treated with equal
respect.
However,
this doesn't mean that all Native
American cultures were the same
- just like no two cultures
are the same today. Therefore
it is feasible that while equality
was the norm in Iroquois society
it wasn't tolerated in the Sioux
culture. However, I think that
the larger problem is that we
don't yet have enough research
or information. We still rely
on too few sources, the majority
of which have been handed down
by white men and therefore tainted
by their biased interpretation.
So I guess we need more scholars
like Wagner, who can delve into
other cultures. The work of
Joy Harjo also points to some
of this - and there is still
much more to come. I hope that
helps.
—Amy
|
