This book focuses on the inequities that are persistently and disproportionately severe for Indigenous peoples. Gender and racial based inequities span from the home life to Indigenous women’s wellness―including physical, mental, and social health. The conundrum of how and why Indigenous women―many of whom historically held respected and even held sacred status in many matrilineal and female-centered communities―now experience the highest rates of gendered based violence is focal to this work. Unlike Western European and colonial contexts, Indigenous societies tended to be organized in fundamentally distinct ways that were woman-centered and where gender roles and values were reportedly more egalitarian, fluid, flexible, inclusive, complementary, and harmonious. Understanding how Indigenous gender relations were targeted as a tool of patriarchal settler colonization and how this relates to women more broadly can be a key to unlocking gender liberation―a catalyst for readers to become ‘gender AWAke.’ Living gender AWAke encompasses living in alignment with agility (AWA) with clear awareness of how gender and other sociostructural factors affect daily life, as well as how to navigate such factors. To live in alignment, is to live from ones’ center and in accordance with one’s authentic self, with agility, by nimbly responding to life’s constantly shifting situations. This empirically grounded work extends and deepens the Indigenist framework of historical oppression, resilience, and transcendence (FHORT) by delving deep into the resilience, transcendence, and wellness components of FHORT while centering gender. Understanding the changing gender roles for Indigenous peoples over time fosters decolonization more broadly by enabling greater understanding of how sexism and misogyny hurt people across personal and political spheres. This understanding can foster the process of becoming gender AWAke by identifying and dismantling of sexism and by becoming decolonized from prescriptive gender roles that inhibit living in alignment with one’s true or authentic self.
Readers will gain:
- a research-based approach linking historical oppression, gender-based inequities, and violence against Indigenous women
- understanding of how patriarchal colonialism undermines all genders a tool to dismantle sexism more broadly
- pathways to become Gender AWAke through the understanding of Indigenous women's resilience and transcendence
Author(s): Catherine E. McKinley
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 391
City: Cham
Dedication and Acknowledgment
Preface
Overview and Structure of This Book
Contents
Decolonization from Prescriptive Gender Roles and Sexism: Living Gender AWAke
Personal Reflexivity
References
Patriarchy and Its Handmaid—Sexism
An Introduction to Sexism, Misogyny, the Patriarchy, and Its Consequences
Understanding the Patriarchy, Sexism, and Misogyny
How Socialization Matters
Challenges to Overcoming Patriarchal Oppression
Persistent Gender Imbalances for Women with Children
Personal Reflexivity
References
Part I: The Problem—How Settler Colonial Structures of Historical Oppression Drive Gender-Based Inequities and Violence and Strategies Toward Emancipation
Introduction and Application of the Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) to Gender-Based Violence
The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT)
Historical Oppression
Rezilience/Resilience
Framework Applications
Societal, Community, and Cultural Risk and Protective Factors
Familial Risk and Protective Factors
Relational and Individual Risk and Protective Factors
Conclusion
References
How Did It Happen? A Case Example of the Incremental, Cumulative, and Massive Efforts of Historical Oppression to Reverse Indigenous Women’s Roles and Statuses
The Tension Between Historical Oppression and Resilience
Women’s Status Prior to Colonization
Colonization and Constrained Women’s Roles
References
Divides, Disruptions, and Gendered Rearrangements: How Historical Oppression Impairs Communities and Contributes to Violence
Patriarchal Colonialism
Historical Trauma
Historical Oppression: A Critical Framework
Results Summary and Discussion
Rezilience, Survivance, and Liberation
References
Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression: Experiences and Consequences of Gendered IPV and Sexual Violence Experiences
Part 1: Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression That Perpetuate Violence
Part 2: What About Sexual Violence? Experiences and Consequences of Gendered Sexual Violence Experiences
The FHORT and Sexual Violence Against Indigenous Women
Impact of Sexual Violence
The FHORT’s Resilience and Transcendence: Relational and Spiritual Protective Factors
Contemporary Forms of Historical Oppression: Barriers to Justice for Violence Survivors
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
How Historical Oppression Undermines Families and Drives Risk for Violence
Risk Factors Related to Family Affected by Violence
Historical Oppression as a Risk Factor for Violence in Families
Results Summary
Relational and Situational Factors Related to IPV
Historical Oppression and Violence in Families
Conclusion
References
Interlocking Experiences of Violence Across Women’s Life
Connections Between Childhood Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence
Factors Associated with Violent Victimization
Historical Oppression of Indigenous Women
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
How Patriarchal Gender Roles, Early Childbearing (ECB), and Early Marriage (EM) Contribute to IPV
ECB and EM
Understanding ECB and EM Through the Theoretical FHORT
ECB and EM Among US Indigenous Peoples
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Understanding Indigenous Women’s Experiences and Barriers to Liberation From Violence
Part 1: Indigenous Women’s Experiences of IPV
Critical Theory and IPV
Indigenous Women’s Experiences of IPV
Results Summary
Conclusion
Part 2: Barriers to Emancipation From IPV
The FHORT and Violence Against Indigenous Women
Results Summary and Discussion
References
Patriarchal Gender Roles: Interconnections with Violence, Historical Oppression, and Resilience
Theoretical Background: The FHORT
Theorizing Patriarchal Gender Role Attitudes Through the FHORT
Patriarchal Gender Role Attitudes: Victim Blaming
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Gender Inequities in Home Life: Moms “Mostly Pulling the Weight”
Power Asymmetry in Home Life and the FHORT
Division of Labor and Gender
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Gendered Differences in Experiences of Violence and Violence Perpetration
Ecological Risk Factors with FHORT
Results Summary
Discussion
References
Consequences of Violence on Women, Children, and Families
Consequences of IPV on Indigenous Women, Children, and Families
Consequences of IPV on Women
Consequences of IPV on Children and Families
Interconnections Among Consequences: An Intergenerational Cycle
Results Summary and Discussion
References
Tipping the Balance: Violence Across the Life Course and Socioeconomic Strain Posing Risks While Family and Social Support Offsetting Anxiety and Depression
Depression, Anxiety, and IPV
Social Support and Resilience
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Understanding Depression as an Embodiment of Historical Oppression and Ways to Transcend
Results Summary and Discussion
References
Land, Loss, and Violence: Contemporary Manifestations of Historical Oppression
PTSD and Disaster
Results Summary and Discussion
References
Part II: Woman-Centered and Gender Expansive Protective Pathways
Family and Culture as Structures for Resilience, Resistance, and Transcendence from Violence
Family and Cultural Protective Factors Related to Indigenous Women’s Resilience
Indigenous Family Structure
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Bending But Not Breaking: Resilience of Women Survivors of Violence
Resilience Among Indigenous Peoples
Individual Aspects of Resilience
Spirituality and Faith
Resilience Perspectives and Inner Strength
Results Summary and Discussion
References
What to Do Now? Listening and Learning from Survivors and Professionals Affected by Violence
Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence
Result and Discussion
References
Understanding Gender and Connections Between Mental, Physical, Social, and Community, Cultural Health
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“We Never Go Hungry There Cause My Mom Uses the Resource of the Land”: Returning to Sacred Roots of Subsistence to Promote Wellness and Resilience
A Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT) to Understand Well-Being
Historical Oppression and Subsistence
Resilience and Well-Being
Subsistence and Well-Being
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Understanding Interconnections and Factors Driving Gendered Mental Health Inequities
PTSD
Depression
Suicide
SUD
Comorbidity and Multimorbidity: SUD and Depression/Anxiety/Suicide
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Cultural, Community, Familial, and Individual Factors Related to Wellness Among Youth
Societal Factors
Historical Oppression
Perceived Discrimination
Cultural Factors
Ethnic Identity
Spirituality
Connectedness
Community Factors
Community Environment
School Environment
Peer Influence
Social Support
Familial Factors
Family Support
Family Income
Parental Mental Health
Family Trauma and Stressful Life Events
Individual Factors
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Family Resilience: Resisting and Offsetting Historical Oppression While Transcending
Conceptualizing Family Resilience
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Decolonizing Family Connectedness Enhancing Family Resilience
The Protective Role of Family Connectedness
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“Your Kids Come First”: Plugged in and Protective Parenting Practices Promoting Resilience
The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence (FHORT)
Indigenous Cultural Perspectives on Parenting
Parenting in High-Risk Environments
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“Trust Us Enough to Come to Us”: Communication as a Building Block of Family Resilience
The Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“He Had Rules and He Had Guidelines”: Establishing Family Accountability and Structure
The FHORT, Family Resilience, and Positive Parental Disciplinary Practices
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Love: A Decolonizing Act of Rebellion to Promote Family Resilience and Reduce Alcohol Use
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“They Called [Great Grandmother] the Famous Storyteller Around Here”: Elders Transcending Historical Oppression Through Language, Story, and Culture
Language, Elders, and Family Time Promoting Enculturation and Resilience
Elders and the Oral Tradition as Protective Factors
Indigenous Language(s) as Protective Factors for Mental Health
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“She Always Knows What to Do”: Mothers Maintaining Central Roles in Family
Theoretical Background
The Prominence of Resilient Native Women Prior to Colonization
Historical Oppression: Reversing Matrilineal Roles and Imposing Patriarchy
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
“We’ve Kind of Always Come Together”: Humanizing, Complementary, Fluid, Balanced, and Transcendent Gender Roles to Move Forward
Changing Gender Roles in US Families
Impact of Patriarchal Colonialism on Indigenous Families
Framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience, and Transcendence
“Doing Gender” and “Doing Family”
Results Summary and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Tying It All Together: Living Gender AWAke
References
Appendix: Table of Chapters, Key Words, Abstracts, and Discussion Questions
Index
