Contemporary Canadian Indigenous Womens Roles Research

Contemporary Canadian Indigenous Women’s Roles
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Contemporary Canadian Indigenous Women's Roles
Women traditionally played a very important role in the Aboriginal family, government and spiritual ceremonies. Women dominated the domestic sphere and were considered as caretakers and life-givers while men spent their time out there in hunting and gathering. Women had the responsibility of providing socialization to the children. Husbands respected women, and there were almost no family issues as the traditional families lived in honesty and kindness. However, this cohesion and respect for women came to an end in the fifteenth century when the Anglo-Europeans stepped in the land of Canada. The respect for women has since degraded exposing indigenous women to a myriad of abuse and mistreatments. This paper is going to critically examine the issues that the indigenous women have since been faced with and how we are taking part in promoting and protecting our rights today.
Issues Facing Indigenous Women in Canada
Several work of research conducted indicated that women and children are the victims of so many issues in the contemporary societies in Canada. They are faced with problems ranging from social, economic and political(Suzack, 2010). According to Amnesty International report of 2014, there is a rise in cases of violence against indigenous women in Canada. Aboriginal women experienced the violence about three times more than the non-Aboriginal women. This violence is perpetuated by their spouses and even strangers. Women go through several issues among them being rape, spousal abuse, stereotypes, murder, political injustices, racism and other forms of domestic violence(Anderson, 2016).
Rape cases among indigenous women are rampant and widespread according to a document entitled "Native Perspective on Rape." Women have suffered rape for many generations. Many women do not report rape as they regard it a personal and private pain unless when it is under unavoidable circumstances(Suzack, 2010). This is particular because rape has become a normal violence which has even become a norm of the society. Various women organizations such as the Native Women's Transition Centre have termed rape as disrespect for women and human dignity at large(Suzack, 2010).
Women experience more challenges in addressing the issue of rape because of the way the victims are treated by those who should come to their rescue. Police, for instance, intimidate the victims instead of helping them in bringing to book the perpetuators. Not long ago, there was a case of a sixteen years old girl who was raped(Anderson, 2016). The girl was taken to the hospital, and the matter reported to the police who after that came to the mother's home claiming that the girl was lying and they wanted to charge her for public mischief! They were recorded shouting to the mother "didn't you want it when you were at her age?"
Spousal abuse is another form of violence the indigenous women have suffered for a long time. In a report on the Aboriginal Inquiry of Manitoba, it is indicated that one out of three women has gone through a spousal abuse compared to one out of ten in non-Aboriginal women. Ontario Native Women's Association conducted research in 1989 and found that 80% of the women had gone through this abuse(Moreton-Robinson, 2000). Women are physically attacked and hurt by their spouses but neither do they report or seek help. As pointed earlier police are their enemies and therefore they would consider seeking help rather from a shelter(Moreton-Robinson, 2000). They would seek such help after several instances of the abuse. Those perpetuating this crime are not properly prosecuted, and many escape the wrath of law as the justice for the abused remains in question.
The Police do not understand situations of abuse on women and the needs of the children at large. The report on the Aboriginal Inquiry of Manitoba recorded a case of a woman who was abused by the husband, and when the matter was reported, police came to the home where they found the situation having calmed. Instead of arresting the culprit, they simply told the mother that the situation would be okay(Adelson, 2005). As they left, the situation worsened. Such a woman would rather suffer than to report to police because she would find it more dangerous reporting than going silent(Bingham, Zhang, &, & Shannon, 2014). This shows that women who are abused do not seek justice. They are instead terrified.
In another case, a woman was smashed on the face against the fence, her face slammed on the world, several kicks to the face and dragged into the house by her husband. That is a bad criminal act that should be prosecuted and given a tough penalty. Surprising, such a culprit was sentenced to seven months imprisonment and released(Bingham, Zhang, &, & Shannon, 2014).
Indigenous women also suffer high infant mortality rates and reduced life expectancy that other Canadians. Young women lack opportunities in their reserve areas and have been forced to migrate to urban centers. There are no education opportunities for those girls living in the rural areas. Studies have indicated that indigenous women in Canada are mostly single parent which amplifies the problem they go through such as difficulty in securing employment. The consequence is languishing in poverty and living in poor houses(Brownridge, 2003).
Aboriginal women do not bear any political say, and their voices are neglected. The political system is dominated by men. Even with the National Native Women's Association of Canada that is expected to be respected by the law of the country, it was noted that women were not given considerations in the leadership(Adelson, 2005). To date, very few indigenous women have been elevated to high ranks of administration which still denies them the capacity to advocate for their rights as their counterparts in other parts of the world.
According to Amnesty 2014, indigenous women experience deepened inequalities in living conditions and are discriminated in the provision of government services which has consequently pushed the women and girl...