POL-330

This discussion seminar explores the historical co-constitution between colonialism and patriarchy, and the relationship between feminist practices and Indigenous politics in Indigenous women-led struggles in the Americas. These Indigenous activists and scholars have not only challenged the exclusion of their voices within hegemonic feminist traditions, but have also brought to light the histories of anti-patriarchal, anti-colonial and anti-capitalist struggle led by their communities. We will explore the work of pioneer figures from Domitila Barrios de Chungara and Rigoberta Menchu to Paula Gunn Allen and Kim TallBear, and engage in dialogue with some contemporary Indigenous leaders. Rather than this being a course that surveys various Indigenous feminist traditions and movements, it is a theory-intensive class that invites students to reconsider concepts such as gender, colonialism, capitalism and power through the contributions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholar-activists who have either embraced or challenged the intersection between Indigenous and feminist struggles. May be taken for credit toward the Gender Studies major or minor or the Indigeneity, Race, and Ethnicity Studies major or minor. Distribution area: social sciences or cultural pluralism.