Oglala women : myth, ritual, and reality / Marla N. Powers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Powers, Marla N.

Series:

Women in culture and society.

Women in culture and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Oglala women.

Indian women--South Dakota.

Indian women.

Oglala Indians--Social life and customs.

Oglala Indians.

Indians of North America--South Dakota--Social life and customs.

Indians of North America.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (275 p.)

Edition:

Pbk. ed.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1988, c1986.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Based on interviews and life histories collected over more than twenty-five years of study on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, Marla N. Powers conveys what it means to be an Oglala woman. Despite the myth of the Euramerican that sees Oglala women as inferior to men, and the Lakota myth that seems them as superior, in reality, Powers argues, the roles of male and female emerge as complementary. In fact, she claims, Oglala women have been better able to adapt to the dominant white culture and provide much of the stability and continuity of modern tribal life. This rich ethnographic portrait considers the complete context of Oglala life-religion, economics, medicine, politics, old age-and is enhanced by numerous modern and historical photographs. "It is a happy event when a fine scholarly work is rendered accessible to the general reader, especially so when none of the complexity of the subject matter is sacrificed. Oglala Women is a long overdue revisionary ethnography of Native American culture."-Penny Skillman, San Francisco Chronicle Review "Marla N. Powers's fine study introduced me to Oglala women 'portrayed from the perspectives of Indians,' to women who did not pity themselves and want no pity from others. . . . A brave, thorough, and stimulating book."-Melody Graulich, Women's Review of Books "Powers's new book is an intricate weaving . . . and her synthesis brings all of these pieces into a well-integrated and insightful whole, one which sheds new light on the importance of women and how they have adapted to the circumstances of the last century."-Elizabeth S. Grobsmith, Nebraska History

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Series Editor's Foreword

Preface

Introduction

1. Historical Prelude

2. The Buffalo Nation

3. Wincincala: Girlhood

4. Wikoškalaka: Adolescence

5. Winyan: Womanhood

6. Winunȟcala: Old Age

7. Growing up Oglala

8. Making the Mark

9. It's the Men Who Are the Chiefs

10. Hard Times

11. All My Relations

12. Sex Roles and Social Structure

Notes

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612538834

9781282538832

1282538837

9780226677507

0226677508

OCLC:

609856882