Changes in traditional gender roles for Alaska Natives: their effects on sense of purpose, direction, identity, and family and community stature

Wirts, Eleanor Kyle

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Abstract

"In the past century, especially since the 1960s, Alaska Natives have faced rapid cultural and socio-economic change as Western influences have increasingly infiltrated the Native life-ways; since the 1960s social problems, including alcohol abuse, violence, and suicide have plagued Native individuals, families and communities. Arguably, a source of these social problems is the striking shift from clearly defined gender roles for Native adults that guided youth to adulthood in the past to opaque and ambiguous roles for adults that draw on both traditional and Western cultures. Historically, clearly defined gender roles provided youth with the role models necessary for maturing into healthy, productive adults and thereby offered youth a sense of purpose, direction and identity. Today's youth must look for cues in both traditional and Western culture to envision their futures, and with often conflicting value systems and too few strong adult role models to follow, many youth, especially males, are floundering. Healthy adult and elder role models are essential to the well-being of Native youth as they mature into adulthood. The revitalization of mentors, role models and close relationships between adults and youth are critical to future health and well-being of Alaska Native individuals, families and communities"--Leaf iii

Description

Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010

1. Introduction -- Methodology -- Transcribing, coding and analyzing data -- Findings -- Gender role changes -- Sense of purpose and direction -- Sense of identity -- Family and community stature -- General themes -- Recognition of research participants -- 1. Pre-Contact era -- Introduction -- Identification of men's and women's roles -- Men's traditional roles -- Roles of men in relation to other family members -- Women's traditional roles -- Roles of women in relation to other family members -- Sense of purpose, direction and identity in relation to manhood and womanhood -- Young males -- Young females -- Role models and important influences -- Role models and important influences for males -- Role models and important influences for females -- Role models and important influences among peers -- How role models and important influences shaped the future for youth -- Skill set development -- Traditional education -- Conclusion -- 2. 1730-1850 early contact years and 1850-1900 early transition years -- Introduction -- Overview of thesis argument -- Early contact years : 1730-1850 -- Early influence in Southeast Alaska : 1730-1850 -- Early influence in North and Northwest Alaska : 1790-1850 -- Early transition years : 1850-1900 -- Global context for the dramatic change occurring in Northern Alaska -- 3. 1900-1950 middle transition years -- Introduction -- Education -- Religion -- Wage labor and cash -- Technology : roles of men and women and advancements in technology -- 4. 1950-1980 late transition years -- Introduction -- WWII -- Territory and statewide change -- President Johnson's Great Society Programs -- Education -- Wage labor -- Role models -- Technology : Time, education and adolescence -- 5. 1980-2010 present era -- Introduction -- Education -- Wage labor -- Technology and sports -- Role models and important influences -- Concluding analysis and recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix.

Date

2010-08

Type

Thesis

Collections

College of Liberal Arts