My theme this year is blogging about my author brand. Saturdays' posts are on Lenni-Lenape culture or Native American interests.
People Not Boxes
One of the translation issues between the early European colonizers and the Algonquian-speaking people was that the Europeans only recognized men and women. They had some very strict ideas about who fit into which box, and were certain those were the only two boxes. In fact, anyone whose existence disproved that was killed horribly.
Skipping from 1620 to 2020 -- after about 400 years, some parts of society are coming around to the idea that those first Native American people they encountered were on to something. Science is showing that chromosomes aren't the determiners that some people believe. Stories of doctors altering genitals of newborns, often without the consent or knowledge of the parents, are coming to light. Plus, surgery has caught up with ways to help people who wish to get "outsides that match the feelings inside." Trans and gender-fluid were concepts with different positive words over 400 years ago, and that's finally making a comeback.
It's more than that though. There were Lenni-Lenape women who were hunters and fishers. There were men who tended crops and raise children. Recorded history erased many of this. But stories handed down (a forbidden practice until the last century) tell tales of such equality. People did what they were best at, what they were passionate about, in order to strengthen the community. They did not dictate ways of life by the method as the colonizers.
To those who say America is adopting a new way of thinking, I counter with the reality that actually it's a very old way of existing that's finally coming back.
And now a word from science and history:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/think-gender-comes-down-to-x-and-y-chromosomes-think-again/article24811543/
http://theconversation.com/differences-between-men-and-women-are-more-than-the-sum-of-their-genes-39490
https://massivesci.com/articles/sex-gender-intersex-transgender-identity-discrimination-title-ix/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia/
https://isna.org/faq/standard_of_care/
https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/07/25/i-want-be-nature-made-me/medically-unnecessary-surgeries-intersex-children-us
https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/two-spirits-one-heart-five-genders-9UH_xnbfVEWQHWkjNn0rQQ
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/11/two-spirit-people-north-america
https://medium.com/lgbtq-american-history-for-the-people/native-americans-views-on-gender-vs-those-of-the-united-states-today-d080dc31258c
I have heard that, about the many groups recognizing more than two genders.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I think we've 'forgotten' a lot of truths that are now being 'discovered'.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, definitely interesting and new to me. Thanks for sharing and for stopping by over the weekend. Incidentally your sign-in credentials on my blog takes me to an error page but I found you by asking Google and then I corrected your blog URL on my site so others can find you easier. Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteCathy's Pinup Girl Art Sketch Series 'P'
"People not boxes" indeed - thank you for this post! While I did know that many Native American tribes, as well as other indigenous people, recognized more than two genders, I would love to see this information and understanding widely known, and of course, accepted.
ReplyDeleteI love that you're devoting Saturdays to Lenni-Lanape culture posts. I confess that I'm having a difficult time during this year's A-to-Z challenge visiting as many blogs as I usually do, but I certainly intend to come back and work my way through many more of your posts.
"a very old way of existing that's finally coming back" Love that!
ReplyDeleteAn A-Z of Faerie: Moon