Native American Women and Agriculture: A Seneca Case Study

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Native American Women and Agriculture A Seneca
Case Study

• By Mallori Smith

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What is the author trying to argue?

• Seneca women were strong
• Steadfast in their traditions, beliefs, ways of
  life through war, sickness, depletion of their
  homes, lands, crops, families.
• Were capable to do either mans work and/or
  womens duties.

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How does the author try to explain the argument?

• Seneca women controlled ag. Production
• Held high social and community status
• Owned land
• Food distribution
• Authority in lawmaking
• Spokeswomen for their cause
• women of the longhouse ran households and
  family life

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Does the author assume the white middle-class
womans norm?

• No. This article is from the viewpoints of Native
  American women and also white Europeans.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths
• Thorough description of Seneca women
• Clear picture of what Seneca endured
• Historically educational/enlightening
• Clear point made
• Easily understood
• Aroused interest and emotion

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Strengths and Weaknesses contd.

• Weaknesses
• Not enough information given by Seneca women
• Most direct accounts were from White men

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Diversity Training Manual

• Dehumanization
• Senecas were savage
• Incapable of normal functioning because they
  were non-white women
• Ethnicity/race, sex, gender contribute to Seneca
  oppression

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Diversity Training Manual contd.

• Homogenization
• Seneca only able to do same jobs as White women
• Native Americans were all savages with improper
  traditions and beliefs
• Native Americans were all ignorant and their
  women weak and powerless

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Diversity Training Manual contd.

• De-Contextualization
• Seneca women refused removal from their land
  because they were stubborn, witchcraft-practicing
  females
• Their refusal not attributed to their strong
  beliefs and loyalty to their people, lands, and
  traditions

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The End

• Jensen, J.M. Native American Women and
  Agriculture A Seneca Case Study. Sex Roles,
  1977, 3, 423-441.