“She’s the Center of My Life, the One That Keeps My Heart Open”: Roles and Expectations of Native American Women

Abstract

Historically, Native American (NA) mothers have proven essential to the survival of their families and communities, yet scant research has examined their roles today. Current gender roles in NA communities are influenced by historical oppression (both historic and contemporary forms) that acted to reverse matrilineal gender norms in favor of patriarchy. The present study sought to explore norms and expectations for women among two NA tribes located in the southeastern region of the United States. The framework of Historical Oppression, Resilience and Transcendence (FHORT), Hill-Collins’s concept of “motherwork,” and a framework of reproductive justice were used to frame the study and interpret findings. This critical ethnography included data from field notes, semistructured interviews, and focus groups. Reconstructive analysis, a specific type of thematic qualitative analysis for critical ethnographies, was used to interpret data. Participants from both tribes described themes related to the expectations and roles of mothers. These expectations included themes of (a) mothers as caretakers, (b) mothers as the centers of family and role models, (c) women to prioritize family over economic and educational aspirations, and (d) decolonizing norms for mothers. While historical oppression and patriarchal norms have constrained and regulated expectations for motherhood and the domestic roles of NA women, these findings also highlight how women decolonize these norms and find ways to reclaim their power through their roles as mothers.

“Something Was Attacking Them and Their Reproductive Organs”: Environmental Reproductive Justice in an Indigenous Tribe in the United States Gulf Coast

“…Historically, many tribes located in the Gulf Coast region were both matrilineal and matrilocal societies [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Gender roles were also frequently flexible [ 61 , 63 ].…”

“…For example, colonizers would often refuse to do business or negotiate with female tribal members, undermining women’s leadership roles [ 59 , 62 ]. Recent research exploring the roles and expectations of female tribal members in this group has identified that women often take on caregiving roles, act as the center of the family and as a role models and explored recent decolonizing practices in gender relations [ 60 ]. However, this same research also found that women are often expected to prioritize their families over their own educational or economic desires and aspirations.…”

My Grandma Said, "Bring Her to Me"

“…These findings highlight the tribal value of women in leadership positions, including roles as healers, and indicate that, although settler colonialism (through "patriarchal colonial ism") has undermined some of the Indigenous values that historically empowered women in this tribe, women continue to hold important leadership positions in the home, and act as healers and leaders in the community. 59 Women described their identity as Indigenous women as a source of strength. Although none of these participants explicitly characterized themselves as feminists, their description of the role of female leadership within the tribe is consistent with Native American feminist thought.…”

“I Have to Watch Them Closely”: Native American Parenting Practice and Philosophies

“…Prioritizing children oftentimes meant parents had to make sacrifices for the greater good of their families, in some cases foregoing important personal goals, such as continuing their higher education, to help with family caregiving needs. Furthermore, extant research shows that the expectation to prioritize children's wellness over one's own falls more heavily on NA mothers (Liddell et al, 2020;Rizzo et al, 2013), reflecting patriarchal gender roles that disadvantage women. The "child-centrism" mindset described by our NA participants is a somewhat controversial topic in family psychology, with some scholars arguing that prioritizing the child's wellness may undermine the parents' wellness (Rizzo et al, 2013).…”