The Gender roles that Tai brought up were interesting. Men and women were pretty much separated through out the days' chores. I did not really know that the Women were the ones doing most of the trading. There was a few things that I might have commented about. The term "squaw", in my tribe, the Winnebago's to this day do not like this term. Reasoning is because it means ...the private part of a womens body (genatial). I would use caution when using this word. Another word that we can add to the "list".
Also about a "menstruation" of a women. Another reason why they had to be separated from the tribe at the time is because, like Tai was saying that if the women came in contact with anything that she could take the object or person's power away. Especially a medicine man power and his instruments.
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I thought a woman could take anything she wanted at anytime, it seems to be their power. Also, i think it is just a general rule throughout time that men just need to stay away from a woman during that time of the month. It is just a smart idea. However, I do agree that the word "Squaw" needs to be added to the list. That is the only one on the list so far.
I guess my question on the topic of gender is whether or not the women were forced into separation during their mentrual period or if they too were worried about stealing something else's power? Did the women of the tribe also believe that their power was dangerous and needed to be contained? I always wonder if there is a possible gender bias to beliefs that we learn about through history books and maybe this separation was another way for men to exert their power over women.
Prior to this week the information I had about the lifestyles of Native women was very poor. I had no idea that they were the masterminds behind the agricultural production, shelter construction and even held political power amongst the tribe. It would be interesting to study the variations between Native and European women of the time.
my knowledge they women were not forced it was just be apart of being a women. I don't believe this was anything bad it was just apart of the lifestyle.
This post leads me to a question I've had all week: what is a squaw exactly? Is it just another "term"? Was is used in reference to all tribes?
Very interesting to know. I did not know what that term meant, and it is good mention that, because we dont run around saying the N word to african americans. Why in the world would we call native womean squaws.
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