Readings on Native and Women of Color - Essay Example

Readings on Native and Women of Color A. Summary Allen’s writing encompasses her perspective on the Indian woman. The first section of the excerpt focuses on the identity of the Indian woman in modern America and the definition of that woman by society. The author proceeds to make a comparison of the Indian woman to the west women. The image of a woman is then generalized through different tribes and regions, integrating the author’s view of the Indian woman and how society views her. In the second section of the story, she traces the loss of identity to the fifteenth century, with the coming of the Anglo-Americans, and captures the changes that the woman underwent as stories told by the author’s mother. This is followed by a compilation of self-assessed gender roles in the family unit, as indicated by her mother moving furniture around the home in rearrangement (Allen 34). The third section of the text discusses the foundation of the Indian identity through various struggles of the community, such as martyrs and savages.  B. Themes The themes that are captured in the writing are encompassed in the definition of society. Identity is the foremost theme in the writing in which the identity of the Indian woman is derived from the social and sexual concepts. Identity theme is further enhanced with the inclusion of gender roles and responsibilities, from the expectations of society, and behaviors and acts in which the subjects engaged. In addition, the theme of oppression is captured in the cultural difference between the west and America and the invasion of the other cultures, even though they seemed stronger. A clash of cultures is encapsulated in the discussion of the Indian woman’s identity. C. Characters and their Roles Characters in the passage include the author and her mother. This text is a personal reflection and is based on an analysis of the Indian woman and society. The most content present in the text is discussed from an individual’s point of view meaning that the role of the character is presentation of data, analysis and conclusions to the problem identified in the writing. The role of the mother is playing a supporting character to the hypotheses that are proposed by the author. In the passage, the mother is used as evidence as well as reference to some of the behaviors and acts analyzed as representation of the Indian woman. D. Emotions The writing and documentation of the challenges the Indian woman faced give rise to remorse, pity and a desire for justice. The discussion in the writing portrays the subject as one who has been subjected to a lot of mistreatment from a stronger opposition. The values on the Indian woman were overlooked, which should not be the case, and ignoring the plight of that society is depressing. The inhabitants should uphold importance of the Indian culture or neighbors to the Indian settlements; thus the acts of the west are inhumane and arrogant. The invaders considered their culture as supreme and used it to beat down the Indians. E. Author’s Intention and Importance to Women of Color The author’s choice of writing can be based on little known developments of the Indian culture, especially with the invasion by the west. It also captures personal opinion on a subject that is dark to that community. The importance of the writing was the expression of the past that many people have little idea, and illustrate the indifference with which the Indian community was accorded, much less a woman. The book is important to women of color, following the manner in which society regards them, their roles, and how they should ensure their plight is known. The book is a platform that facilitates the discussion of equality and diversity needs in the global community. F. Impact of Academic Articles The effect of reading other academic journals develops the theme of gender inequality, roles and a male chauvinist society. Although, Allen captures the challenges that are directed to the Indian woman, following the discussions by Harjo, Bird and Blanco (p. 20), the issue of women subjected to unfair treatment is universal. Indian women may have been subjected to unfair treatment in the past, but other societies are not innocent on that offence. There is a consensus that women should become empowered, as opposed to suffering in silence and suffer under the identity and roles accorded by society. It is only the expression of personal and collective grief and suffrage that their plight can be documented in history and be points of action for other generations. Smith begins by defining the challenges that a native woman faces, in politics and life in general. The challenges as defined by smith are race and gender (p. 1). The analysis, evaluation, opinions, and judgments accorded to the woman, native or of color, are founded in what the society considers as the right action for the subject. The same mechanism of society is used in oppressing women to the extent of violence as a society has inculcated a belief and expectation that the female gender ought to be treated in a particular manner as the society dictates. All the offenses that are directed towards women are based on their difference to men, which is a method of control, and to women of color ethnicity plays a similar role. G. Cultural Realities of the Women The cultural realities of the women in the readings have influenced their perspective of the society towards the identity of a woman. The women feel left out, alienated and oppressed by society, which ought to protect and preserve their virtue. There is a feeling of betrayal by society that is purported in the readings, either in the denial of rights and privileges or unfair or unjust treatment. The women feel that the society has neglected their needs, and though claims of making amends have been campaigned, no real efforts to undo the damage done to the woman have been made. H. Quote Allen best portrays who a woman is by writing “Through all the centuries of war and death and cultural and psychic destruction have endured the women who raise the children and tend the fires, who pass along the tales and the traditions, who weep and bury the dead, who are the dead, and who never forget” (p. 35). This statement is important to the identity of a woman, more to the Indian and woman of color, who is oppressed by society, but has the heart to endure, preserve, and survive in an environment that does not encourage her doing so. Works Cited Allen, Paula Gunn. Reading 4: Where I Come From Is Like This, pg 31 – 35. Harjo, Joy, Gloria Bird, and Patricia Blanco. Reinventing the Enemy's Language: Contemporary Native Women's Writing of North America. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1997. Print. Smith, Andrea. Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2005. Print. Read More