Indian Culture Concerning Women Affects American Culture Today

When reading about the cultural traditions among the Indians I found the caliber of work expected of the women and their value within the tribes to be significantly disproportionate. The native women did much of the hard labor within the tribes. They were essentially responsible for the well being of the men and children. Yet, it seems as if the men still dominate and diligently control the women’s every action. I found it less than coincidental that this relationship among the Indians is something that is seen within American culture and families until the feminist movement, and some might argue that it still exist today.

In the reading, it states that “all these men are accustomed to leaving their wives when there is disagreement between them, and they marry again whomever they please.” This masculine need for agreement shows its trend within the Indian culture. The men are much like the protectors and the women the providers, but it seems like protection is valued more within the Indian culture then providing. After all, they are “warlike people”. This is interesting because it is the forefront for how American housewives will be treated throughout the settling of the New World. Even though it doesn’t seem that the Indians traditions were ever exactly mimicked in American culture, some values along with old world values are mixed to create what has been shown as American culture. Throughout American history, male dominance has been reinforced. American culture suggests that a wife should agree with her husband. Women in American culture are still currently pushing to change this norm, and this is something that might possibly be attributed to Indian culture.

Another example of the ill treatment towards women, and the disproportionate value given to them is on page 125 when Cabeza de Vaca states that “all the Indians whom we saw have as a custom, from the day their wives know they are pregnant, not to sleep with them until after two years of nurturing their children.” The women are also required to nurture children until they are age 12. It is the woman’s sole responsibility to feed the offspring of the tribe and to preserve its continuation but they are treated like objects. The men use them for their convenience, it’s almost like the women are slaves to the male traditions. In America prior to the feminist movement, women were mostly housewives. For a woman to work and protect the families well being, was frowned upon. Staying home and preserving the continuation of a families name was their job. The treatment of Indian women in exploration times was mimicked in American culture for many proceeding years, and some might argue that to some extent it still exist today. See this site on gender salary differences and perceptions within the workplace to view how it can be argued that some Indian traditions concerning the value of women are still affecting Women within the workplace today. http://content.salary.monster.com/articles/gender_wages/?WT.mc_n=ibsid;phi;art01