Essay on Gender Roles in Dakota Culture - 909 Words

I do not agree with scholars who argue that Dakota women were subordinate to Dakota men. Waterlily is â€Å"about a girl who lived a century ago, in a remote camp-circle of the Teton Dakotas [Lakotas].†(Deloria vi). Ella Cara Deloria, author of Waterlily, explains her writing, â€Å"it reads convincingly to any who understands Dakota life... and its purely the womans point of view, her problems, aspirations, ideals, etc.†. (Deloria vi). In general, when our [westernized] culture hears that women are inferior to men, we think of it as sexist and unfair, not as a culturally acceptable idea. Gender relations in the Dakota tribe were very specific and there were no crossing of the sexes. To begin, I think it is important to analyze the difference†¦show more content†¦Men fought their enemies and held great honor doing so. They hunted buffalo, deer, and other wild animals (Deloria 240). The mens main priority in life was to make sure his family was safe and well-car ed for. He was the protector and provider of all things. Women packed the houses each times the camp moved; they guarded all belongings during the march. Once they stopped, the women were in charge of unpacking and setting up the tipi. They laid out all bedding, gathered firewood, brought water, cooked, passed out food, and took care of children (Deloria 240). It was the womens job to run the household. She prepared what the men provided to care for the family. â€Å"Mens and womens worlds were complementary, but very much compartmentalized.† (Deloria 241). Gender roles do not include just physical responsibilities, they are also thought processes and emotions. Dakota women were more concerned with the welfare and reputation of their brothers, children and husbands. They learned to honor themselves by honoring others first. They held traditions that are similar to what some women are taught today, such as, it is up to the man to pursue a relationship with a woman, to dress m odestly so that men see you and not your body first, etc. While some may find these ideas as sexist, personally, I dont think they are. I think it is how culture has played a role in my life. It is what has been engraved in me and not because I amShow MoreRelatedCultural Self assessment1590 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Cultural Self-Assessment Haley McGuire University of North Dakota Cultural Self-Assessment Introduction No two people are the same. Race, ethnicity, gender, and age are all factors that make individuals different and unique. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing my values, beliefs and traditions, how I identify myself, and my attitude on diversity. Family Values, Beliefs, and Traditions My family is very diverse and comes from many different places. My maternal grandmotherRead MoreThe Importance Of Nature Vs. 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