Indigenous Men and Masculinities
Legacies, Identities, Regeneration
Description
What do we know of masculinities in non-patriarchal societies? Indigenous peoples of the Americas and beyond come from traditions of gender equity, complementarity, and the sacred feminine, concepts that were unimaginable and shocking to Euro-western peoples at contact. "Indigenous Men and Masculinities", edited by Kim Anderson and Robert Alexander Innes, brings together prominent thinkers to explore the meaning of masculinities and being a man within such traditions, further examining the colonial disruption and imposition of patriarchy on Indigenous men.
Building on Indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous feminism, and queer theory, the sixteen essays by scholars and activists from Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand open pathways for the nascent field of Indigenous masculinities. The authors explore subjects of representation through art and literature, as well as Indigenous masculinities in sport, prisons, and gangs.
"Indigenous Men and Masculinities" highlights voices of Indigenous male writers, traditional knowledge keepers, ex-gang members, war veterans, fathers, youth, two-spirited people, and Indigenous men working to end violence against women. It offers a refreshing vision toward equitable societies that celebrate healthy and diverse masculinities.
Reviews
“A strong beginning to the work of critical studies of Indigenous masculinities.”
- John Gamber
“Necessary reading for anyone doing work on Indigenous masculinities. It will be a touchstone in this area for some time. “
- Jean-Paul Restoule
“The approaches and perspectives that Innes and Anderson have collected here are valuable for scholars, students, and teachers across the humanities and social sciences as they continue the important journey along the road to decolonization.”
- Rob LeBlanc
“We can learn a great deal about the workings of gender and the intersections with colonialism from the examples assembled by Innes and Anderson, and Indigenous Men and Masculinities will extend conversations thoughtfully about Indigenous manhood in the twenty-first century.”
- Jean-Paul Restoule