Western Narrative Analysis

Willeto’s lecture (2015) reaffirmed what I had previously learned in my gender studies courses while at North Georgia College a few years ago; the existence of varying genders within societal group cultures. Western historical representations seem to focus on the sexual stereotypes in a dichotomy, as one or the other, as male or female. Many people only see male and female and fail to understand the difference between gender and sex, wrongly intermixing the two concepts. Historically, the Westerners Western narrative viewed Native peoples as derivations of male and female in the form of either “Nobel Redman” and “Blood thirsty Redman/savage” for any male and either “Indian Princess” and “Squaw Drudge” for any female. I was aware of a third …show more content…
How much did the, predominantly, matriarchal or balanced patriarchal background of the Native Peoples play on the acceptance of third and fourth gendered people? I feel that Christianity played a big part in the negation of third and fourth gendered people as well. The communal nature of the Native Peoples helped them accept those of differing gender identities because they continued to be productive members of the community and therefore, valued. If Native people and their recognition of two additional genders (with the subdivisions) had been objectively observed without the attempt to romanticize or exterminate, would it have shaped how the Europeans proceeded with regards to treaties, interactions, and how our collective history would have played out? If Western societies had taken the ideals of Native people I feel our society now would be vastly different. I feel there would have been a higher respect for gender equality and stereotypical sex/gender roles would be more …show more content…
I knew enough to be upset by the cartoon images and the costumes but I had not fully considered how those images shaped the personal consciousness of the Native People of today. Because those past images promoted a “proud people” as if it was an innate natural quality every Native Person was born with, and not something that is shaped by not only you and your personal community but also shaped consciously and subconsciously by outside forces acting upon you. I was also not aware of the delusions of photography, even current photographic studies, and how they still showed an either/or scenario: Proud Native dancing at a pow wow or a poor drunk. These images showed that the only proud or happy Native Person is in the past while the only vision of present Native People is a poor drunk. Both Harlen and Willeto made me rethink how history is recorded, how misrepresentations can affect the present, and think of possible solutions to be a part of a better future. What ways can the narrative be corrected? How can the image be seen through the right lens? How can genders misconceptions and stereotypes be revised? Education. Education through listening to the problem while not invalidating through the fall back of mode of “politically correct whining”, but receptive listening with a desire to open up to the