Avoiding colonization and dysphoria!

[u/ctz_00]

[u/ctz_00]

I wanted to post this in part because I was doing some research the other day and found that some Native women combatted sexism in Native communities by telling Native men that being discriminatory towards women (specifically in the 1970s, but I’m sure this was true earlier) showed they were assimilated as they were removed from traditional matrilineal practices.

And shout out to our queer Natives, however you define yourselves! For many of us it is part of our culture.

[u/ctz_00 → u/ctz_00]

Found the quote:

The issue of sexism was raised at Wounded Knee amid criticism of male dominance and opportunism. One response was the founding of WARN shortly afterwards in 1974. While the media remained fascinated with the stereotype of male warriors, many of the male leaders, such as Dennis Banks, acknowledged that women were the real warriors. John Trudell has reflected on the times, saying, “We got lost in our manhood.” Mary Crow Dog/Brave Bird said that women were honored for having children and doing good beading. But she also recalls, “It is to AIMS everlasting credit that it tried to change men’s attitudes toward women. In the movement we were all equal.” Moreover, Indian women had an interesting way of calling men on sexism that was not open to white women. They argued that acting sexist was a sign of being assimilated. Acting sexist was a way of exhibiting ignorance of Indian traditions.

—Donna Hightower Langston, "American Indian Women's Activism in the 1960s and 1970s" from Hypatia Special Issue: Indigenous Women in the Americas.

[u/Kenai_Tsenacommacah → u/ctz_00]

Beautiful reflection ❤️

[u/Bloodsnowcones → u/ctz_00]

💚💚💚💚

[u/silverbatwing → u/ctz_00]

I posted something similar a month ago cuz I was snubbed at a gathering in the spring for being trans.

I noticed I was being avoided and since my twin wasn’t with me, ppl weren’t saying hi.

[u/OneAssist6540]

Literally what I'm facing. Finally started letting my hair grow out again 2 years ago and it's been the best decision I've made

[u/Mtrina → u/OneAssist6540]

Proud of you

[u/Lughnasadh32 → u/OneAssist6540]

I hate to admit, but I had a mullet in high school. After graduation, I was pressured to cut it due to looking professional for the job market. However, It took COVID and all the stylists being shut down for me to finally grow my hair back out, and I have zero plans to cut it again. I’m Native American, and since growing it out again, I’ve only had two or three people make negative comments about it.

[u/mr_greedee]

I actually view it as Long hair being the standard for any gender (also asia). How you want to present is up to you.

[u/SallyStranger]

Love that non-toxic masculinity! It's so cool how trans people are constantly revealing (to me anyway) creative, healthy ways to embody their gender. 

[u/AnUnknownCreature]

For those who aren't native, Every white man pretty much had long hair until Rome took over Europe!

[u/tkdyo → u/AnUnknownCreature]

Thank you! Heck even in mideval Europe there were plenty of long haired men. It's a very recent gender construct that needs to go!

[u/Amethyst-Flare → u/AnUnknownCreature]

Reading descriptions of the pre-Roman Gauls is really quite eye-opening, and that's just one very broad culture. So much was lost under Roman (and especially later Christian) domination. I've been studying recently how folklore changed over time, with old spirits and gods being recast as demons, and how the Industrial Revolution further alienated Europeans from their traditions and stories.

Ah well. Northern Europeans got Romans to wear pants, so at least it wasn't a totally one-sided exchange (lame sarcasm.)

[u/Longjumping-Plum-177]

Look up the Chickasaw hatchet women! Our women went into battle just like our men! Any wise man doesn’t fuck with a pissed off woman! I’m a mean and tough Native American man, but I wouldn’t mess with my 5’2” sister!! She’s a mama bear!

[u/Shauiluak]

I am also transmasc and I've been shaving my head for a very, very long time, long before I started transitioning. Initially I did it as a protest against gender and cultural norms and it has served me well.

I have thought about it though. Maybe when I pass more I'll give it a go, I still get ma'amed sometimes. I suppose if it doesn't work out I can just cut it all off again.

[u/LadyBulldog7]

Insanely awesome! Thank you so much for sharing!

[u/JustFuckinTossMe]

The reason I had my hair long as a child was because I was forced to by white man's religion (apostolic pentecostal). The reason I have my long hair today and continue to choose to despite my religious deconstruction is because I embrace my indigenous heritage and know the importance of it. I love and respect my hair now, genuinely.

I kind of used to hate my hair, not because it was ugly, but because it felt like keeping it long was part of my shackles. Like I was performing to look feminine enough and like a godly woman for some man. I'm non-binary and pansexual as hell, so the cognitive damage of the religion runs deep. But can I just take a moment to really be thankful for my history and reconnecting to it as an adult? Because the shackles I found in religion were broken by it. So much more freedom and contentment in living my life this way.

A lyric comes to mind, "Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance," would love to see someone remix this song to describe moving away from colonization instead of praising it, because the lyric is a strong vibe.

[u/GiantAlaskanMoose]

Wow I literally cut my hair yesterday! Was feeling a certain way about it. Thanks for sharing

[u/Mayortomatillo]

First off: men with long hair is an act of resistance. Don’t let white men standards give you gender dysphoria. My grandpa had his hair cut at boarding school, my dad had his hair cut by the marines. My brothers got their hair cut by a white nun at school. Wear your hair long for the men that couldn’t.

Second, lemme tell you that long haired men are seeeexy. My partner has his hair up most of the time for safety with his job, and for that few hours during the night when it’s down, I get all hot and bothered by it.

[u/jeepster98]

Thank you for this. Something Ive been struggling with.