In their own words: exploring the political lives of women legislators in Guam
Chair
Drew, Elaine M.Committee
Cruz, Mary Therese F.Shoaps, Robin A.
Kuper, Kenneth G.
Keyword
WomenPolitical activity
Guam
Women and democracy
Democracy
Politics and government
Politics
Government
Feminism
Feminist political geographyPolitical geography
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In 2018, Guam experienced a historic political transformation with the election of its first woman governor and a supermajority of women senators. This electoral outcome was widely framed as a feminist milestone, reinforcing dominant narratives that equate increased female representation with progressive policy advancements. This study critically examines these assumptions by shifting the focus from quantitative representation to the political strategies and lived experiences of Guam’s women lawmakers. Employing oral history interviews, this research investigates how lawmakers conceptualize their political roles, navigate institutional structures, and shape legislative agendas. The findings reveal that while many advocate for policy priorities traditionally associated with liberal feminism—such as reproductive healthcare access, addressing domestic violence, and promoting economic mobility—most deliberately distance themselves from the feminist label. Rather than aligning with traditional feminist discourse, they employ maternal rhetoric and Indigenous CHamoru values, shaping policy in ways that reflect localized strategies of resistance and advocacy. This study challenges universalist frameworks that assume women’s increased political presence leads to the same policy outcomes across contexts and highlights the need for localized analyses of political representation that account for the intersections of gender, colonial histories, and cultural frameworks. In doing so, this research contributes to broader discussions on feminist political theory, postcolonial studies, and Indigenous politics.Description
Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2025Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Statement of the problem -- 1.3 Purpose of the study -- 1.4 Oral history as methodology -- 1.5 Critical Indigenous Theory -- 1.6 Research questions -- 1.7 Organization of the remainder of the study. Chapter 2: Theories of political representation -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Why inclusion matters: the theory of the politics of presence -- 2.2.1 The critical mass model -- 2.2.2 Problematic assumptions -- 2.2 Why structures matter: feminist institutionalism -- 2.3 The danger of gender-only analyses -- 2.4 Conclusion. Chapter 3: CHamoru women throughout history -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Cultural archetypes and representations -- 3.3 "Herstory" through the eyes of CHamoru women -- 3.4 CHamoru women's movements -- 3.4.1 "Placental politics" -- 3.4.2 "Patriot(s) by choice" -- 3.4.3 The great abortion debate of 1990 -- 3.5 Reconnecting to pre-colonial power -- 3.6 Conclusion. Chapter 4: Methodology -- 4.1 Research approach -- 4.2 Research paradigm -- 4.3 Research design -- 4.4 Research method -- 4.5 Research questions -- 4.6 Data collection -- 4.6.1 Role of the researcher -- 4.6.2 Sampling -- 4.7 Sampling -- 4.7 Data recording -- 4.8 Data analysis and interpretation -- 4.8.1 Coding -- 4.8.2 Narrative analysis -- 4.9 Validation strategies -- 4.10 Ethical considerations. Chapter 5: I Manhåga (daughters) -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Keepers of the home -- 5.3 Education -- 5.4 Resilience -- 5.5 Relationally embedded politics -- 5.6 Conclusion. Chapter 6: Famalåo'an (women) -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Women are held to a higher standard -- 6.3 Women face a double bind -- 6.4 Women bear a double burden -- 6.5 Women have a unique perspective -- 6.6 Conclusion. Chapter 7: I mangge'hilo'siha (leaders) -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Preserving CHamoru culture -- 7.2.1 Participants' responses -- 7.2.2 Senator Elizabeth Perez Arriola -- 7.3 Promoting access to healthcare -- 7.3.1 Participants' responses -- 7.3.2 Senator Herminia Duenas Dierking -- 7.4 Protecting against gender-based violence -- 7.4.1 Participants' responses -- 7.4.2 Senator Pilar Crus Lujan -- 7.5 Providing economic opportunities -- 7.5.1 Senator Marcia K. Hartsock -- 7.6 Conclusion. Chapter 8: Discussion of results -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Forgoing feminist labels -- 8.3 Leveraging matrifocal power to achieve political goals -- 8.4 Challenging dominant frameworks -- 8.5 Contributions to Indigenous studies and political science -- 8.6 Implications of the study -- 8.6.1 Implications for political recruitment -- 8.6.2 Implications for policymaking -- 8.6.3 Implications for media -- 8.7 Recommendations for future research -- 8.8 Conclusion.Date
2025-05Type
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