In the families of the Cheyenne tribe, gender roles are very dominant in deciding what each person is supposed to do for the sake of the tribe. The males of the tribe are responsible for food and protection for the family. Many of the men go out on long hunting trips. These trips can last from a few days to a few weeks. The men are also warriors. This means that they are to protect their families from other tribes and animals. Besides feeding and protecting the family, the men are supposed to be involved in politics within the tribe. They are responsible for teaching the sons how to become a member of the council for the tribe. They are also in charge of teaching the sons how to hunt, fish, and use weapons. Males are in charge of giving the …show more content…
When they were younger, in the morning, both the boys and the girls would help their mother with chores. Towards the afternoon when the chores were done, they were allowed to go play with other children in the tribe. The most popular game among the Cheyenne boys was Lacrosse. For girls, it was playing dolls with other girls of the tribe. When children misbehaved, the Cheyenne had firm beliefs in how to punish them. Because they strongly believed in peace and harmony, they never hit their children. The most severe form of punishment was splashing a bucket of water on the children. The children were told by older members of the tribe that they were not supposed to cry because it was a sign of weakness. As the children got older, gender roles took a bigger part in what the children did. Young men began hunting and fishing with their fathers. When their father thought they were ready, they came on the long hunting trips with the adult males. When the boy turned fourteen years old, they were allowed to go on the search for his “guardian spirit.” This search is a rite of passage for a coming of age ceremony in the tribe. The girls would start with simple things like cutting and other easy jobs with cooking. When she got more skilled, she was allowed to cook an entire meal for the family. They were taught by their mothers