“I had a mother that i could always go to”: gender role development and the intergenerational socialization of Indigenous women

ABSTRACT

Previous research exploring gender role conceptualization within the United States has predominantly centred white, middle-class individuals’ experiences. These analyses are therefore limited based on their lack of attention to ethnic, legal/political, and cultural differences within the United States, especially in regard to Indigenous populations. Building on previous exploring the family as a site of gender role development, and resilience, Tribal Critical Race Theory is used in this article to contextualize our findings with particular attention to how colonization has reinforced patriarchy and served to elevate European American thought and experiences. In semi-structured life-history interviews, participants described shifting gender norms in attempts to resist assimilation ideals and a perception of motherhood as holding capacity for challenging settler culture and reclaiming power. Prominent themes for participants included: (a) the role of strong women within the community; (b) the continuum of patriarchal to egalitarian gender norms and beliefs; (c) the roles of mothers and impact of motherhood; (d) norms surrounding early childbearing and marriage; and (e) gendered caretaking. This research finds that tribal women, as primary sources of socialization for children and community, are resisting patriarchal and colonial gender-related expectations and messages and forging a path of strength and resiliency.

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous
• gender norms
• Native american
• motherhood
• childrearing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

The second author (Jessica Liddell) conducted all aspects of the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Jessica Liddell. The manuscript was written in full by Jessica Liddell and Hailey Hogan.

Ethics approval

Tulane University IRB approval and Tribal Council approval was granted before beginning research.

Consent to participate

All participants completed informed consent before participating.

Consent for publication

The second author conducted all aspects of the study and consents for publication. Publication of data findings in a de-identified a format has been approved of by the tribal council.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tulane School of Liberal Arts and the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South at Tulane University.

Notes on contributors

Hailey Hogan

Hailey Hogan (she/her) is a Masters of Social Work student at the University of Montana School of Social Work. She is passionate about women’s health and promoting social justice.

Jessica L. Liddell

Jessica Liddell (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Montana School of Social Work. Her work focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, reproductive justice, community-engagement, and making healthcare systems more equitable. Her recent research explores the sexual and reproductive health experiences among Native American women in the Gulf South. Originally from Logan, Utah, Jessica completed her PhD at Tulane University, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the interdisciplinary City, Culture and Community doctoral program. You can see a complete list of her published work here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/jessica.liddell.1/bibliography/public/