Women and Change at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Chp 1&2

Women in border situations are rarely discussed within the context of history and in both of these chapters much of the struggles that women at the border go through are clearly explained. We clearly see that the border creates a great division between the United States and Mexico, causing a division in culture and gender roles. Not only that but what I was amazed by was that there is a great a political boundary between these two countries in a way that the cities that are closest to the border in which immigrants that reside with in have very poor government help. The government has cut off public funding, welfare and other policies that affect already poverished families being those of illegal immigrants. This causes non-citizens particularly the immigrants from Mexico to be targeted by the US government. One great thing in which immigration often impacts on women is that they are able to challenge tradition. Females cross the border to take advantage of the different opportunities that the United States offers. Such as those of better jobs("manquiladoras"), a better education for their children yet some of these females do not fight for their wages and are stuck with low paying jobs in which they are able to earn more yet they do not realize this.

In chapter two The Unsettling, Gendered Consequences of Migration for Mexican Indigenous Women, women deeply described their feelings about leaving their lands and moving to as they described it the "global world." One way in which one woman described it as was by "..it was like ripping away something very dear to us" even though they love their land/home it is always the best to leave their motherland to that of many dreams in which we call the United States. Getting here is a struggle and these females do it by building social networks. They have no idea of where they are headed to yet once they get there they know they have the support from others and realize that they aren't alone anymore. One way in which life differs from a woman in Mexico vs the United States is that of chores. Work is harder in Mexico such as in preparing food and washing clothes. Yet some immigrant females today still have that mentality of doing what is expected as a woman. What mainly falls into place with that is the male dominance with in this culture. Females do not have a voice and always follow that of their husbands word, they have power over them. Yet what has happened today is that immigration has had an impact on women in a way that those traditions are starting to diminish. But there is con because these females are now viewed as disrespectful, crazy and out of the ordinary because they leave those traditions behind. In the end immigration has led to many differences with in the Mexican community, women are starting to be aware of their rights and now follow their voices and beliefs.

No Parole Today: Pg 1-17

This book is basically about the experience of the young children and their life's at the white mans boarding homes. Laura Tohe does a great job in explaining the struggles and lifestyles of the children in these boarding homes. She explained how these children were taken away from their homes, their family and culture to live that life of the civilized white culture. These young children were treated very unfair while living in these schools and till this day it still affects them. They were treated as prisoners and were stripped from all their customs. Some tried to run away, some succeed while some died trying, others died from loneliness and some survived. They felt ashamed of what they were their culture, their beliefs, the way they spoke and how they dressed. The white civilized culture did a great job affecting the lives of these children. They were expected to wake up early and follow a precise schedule through out their everyday life's. These children were basically soldiers. Not only that but their culture was not respected at all whatsoever, their names were changed and during roll call these children where humiliated by being called differently from their own names in which they did not have a voice to speak up. It got to a point that these children were trapped and had no escape yet to follow the "rules" of these white people and be the good students that they were expected to be.

Everyday is a Good Day: Chapter 3

Culture defines a lot to many as individuals. This chapter titled Context is Everything explains what the indigenous culture really is and how much it really means to the native people. Many of us do not realize or know the lifestyles of indigenous people therefore we are drawn to what the media portrays them and stereotype them in a number of ways that are totally unlike what really an indigenous person really is. Therefore it leads to these natives not having an identity except that one that the Euro-Americans created. We forget that before the settlers arrived there was people and we only credit the white man for the great things he did to this land. Indigenous people were the original people and were not credited at all they were not even taken into consideration. They are the ones that had/have that experience of having a sense of identity/belonging to their native land unlike the white settler that only wanted land and restricted these natives for selfish reasons. One thing that grabbed my attention as I was reading about the personal stories was that of Wilma Mankiller. The part were her childhood was full of great memories being free in her village, hearing stories and playing games and how it all changed with in a blink of an eye. She ended up moving to San. Francisco in which life was a total difference as she described it "it was like landing on Mars."(Mankiller, 56) It really opened my eyes in a way that I was able to relate. These natives are not recognized and are basically forced to leave their culture behind, yet they are the ones that are mostly attached to it. They view life in a way that they don't mind the weather and believe that what the earth gives is a blessing whether we believe its not.

Everyday is a Good Day: Chapters 1&2

After reading these first two chapters there so many thoughts that ran through my mind that I had never thought about. During the first chapter the main ideas that were discussed were what the lands, area, and the earth meant to these native women. How their ceremonies, nights of prayers and songs meant so much to them that words themselves cannot explain what it is to them. These strong native females that appeared in this book where the ones that lead their families their culture into future generations even though it seemed as it was diminished. There a few examples of strong females mentioned in this book Marie and Carrie Dann and Audrey Shenandoh that fought for their beliefs and rights as citizens of this country. These females that step automatically take that role of working for the benefit of future generations and do embrace the many memories of their ancestors.

In the second chapter what was mainly discussed was the real stories of what these native females went through. Their experiences and lifestyles were mentioned and it connected greatly into who they were as native females. Not only that but we have this stereotype with regard to spirituality that we do not realize how important the culture of these females really is. How their land is so significant to them, how they feel as if they are home once they get back to that spot where they were raised and many of their memories were taken away. One quote that stood out to me is "..the heart of who I am and what I am in this world."(Medicine, 30) It opened my eyes to see how much these native females are so appreciative over their lands that as settlers they did not realize and really didn’t care much of these natives and for selfish reasons took their land.

American Indian Women's Activism in the 1960s and 1970s

In this article what was mainly discussed was the many organizations that female activist fought for in three events which where the occupation of Alcatraz Island, the fish in movement and the occupation at Wounded knee. American Indian female activism first took place around the 1960s at a time where many organizations/activism groups started to develop as well. Yet even though all these organizations such as the Black Panthers, or the NAACP fought for their rights in having a place in society since they have always been mistreated which was American Indian goals but they somewhat differed. They fought mostly for their resistance conflicts over land since they have had a great history in the states for many, many years. The National Congress of American Indians was one of the first civil rights movement for the American Indian activism movement. With this happening many young community members began part of these movements and started to make their own activists groups. Many of these Red power groups where very effective and challenged society in many ways. One of these famous red power movements was the that of Alcatraz island. These natives fought for their rights and their land and knew that they deserved better than that of the taking of their own lands. Many went to protest students as well as community members. Another red power movement was that of the fish ins. The government tried to state laws in which Indians were restricted in their fishing rights. This lead to a huge movement with in the society in which women played a huge role. These women were largely concerned in did cause a huge impact in those types of situations. Not only that but through out the years they have been involved. They are there when they need to be heard and raise their voices regarding their tribal rights.