The Stereotypes Of Indigenous Women In Canada

For centuries, Indigenous women have faced many issues originated from the events and circumstance of the colonial history of Canada and the enforcement of a European patriarchal system on Indigenous people and their society. Before colonization, Indigenous communities used to have equal respect between men and women as there was a balance between the two genders. However, it all changed when European set a patriarchal system on the communities as they shifted the gender roles and power control leading towards the influence of discrimination against the Indigenous women . This resulted to Indigenous women constantly experiencing subordination and being unheard by the Canadian government. In today’s 21st century, Indigenous women still experience

Stereotypes have been around since human’s itself as they showcase ideas, images, and thoughts that groups of people hold towards other people who are different from them. These ideas, images and thoughts about other people who are different from one another is media all around us such as movies, books, social media and everyday life. Stereotypes of Indigenous women have been broadcast in every way possible throughout these means of media for centuries. The portrayal of Indigenous women of being beautiful, flawless, peaceful, pure and have a connection with earth has been around since colonization. This idealization has been presented for centuries, it continues on today as stereotyped image is portrayed in movies and clothing like Pocahontas and Halloween costumes. In many of these mainstream images and movies, the Indigenous women leaves her culture, beliefs and values behind to be with her “love”, a white male as she is know to be the savior of him (McGrath, 1990). These false accusations of Indigenous women is due to the white male prejudice writers who beliefs and values favorite men over women during the European colonization (Lajimodiere, 2013). Due to these factors it leds to a

Research has indicated that more than 500 Indigenous women have gone missing or murdered in Canada since the 1980’s as the awareness to the violence is minimal (Gilchrist, 2010). A specific example of this is the disappearance of Lisa Marie Young on June 30, 2002 in Nanaimo, British Columbia (Native Women’s Association of Canada, 2017). Lisa was 21 years old when she disappeared from a night celebrating a birthday as one of her friends had a conversation with a male stranger who then offered them a ride to a house party. Upon arrival, Lisa said she was hungry and the male offered to drive her to get food once he dropped her friends off at the party, ever since then she was never seen again (Native Women’s Association of Canada, 2017). Authorities did not seem to be concerned as the search for Lisa commenced in September 2002, two months after her disappearance. The male who was the last person to be with Lisa has been person of interest but no charges have been laid (Native Women’s Association of Canada, 2017). Indigenous women are 4.5 times greater to be victims of violence compared to other women. As research also indicated that 32% of Indigenous females dies due to physical breathing as it is the continual cause of death of among Indigenous women (Saramo, 2016). This is mainly due to the Canadian