Two Spiriting: Native American Community

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Honoring Our Children Tara Gamble English 102 S. Geitsin 4/22/2014 Being two spirited is known within Native American community. Two spirit is a Native American term used for individuals who possess both male and female spirits, it is considered to have two spirits and one body. Native cultures accept androgynous people and/or those who may be masculine females or feminine males. There are societies that are intolerant of two spirit individuals because it’s understood that it is acceptance for homosexuality. Native Americans have often held intersex, androgynous people, feminine males and masculine females in high respect (Williams). With negative influences from western cultures, two spirited individuals may not be accepted within their…show more content…
Two spirited individuals are accepted because they are honored within the community and highly respected. Two spirits are looked to as religious leaders, teachers and caregivers because they can do the work of a woman and man. . It is important to Native American cultures that they are respected not only for their religious values but simply due to the traits they possess. Stereotypes that are associated with Native are worrier-hunter images that are portrayed in the American culture (Arviso, 2012). In many cultures stereotyping are common when it comes to lesbians, gay, bisexuals and transgender identifying people. “In sociological terms 'gender role' refers to the characteristics and behaviors that different cultures attribute to the sexes. What it means to be a 'real man' in any culture requires male sex plus what our various cultures define as masculine characteristics and behaviors, likewise a 'real woman' needs female sex and feminine characteristics” (Noblius, 2003). In Native cultures two spirit people are free to be who they…show more content…
People must be willing to change their attitude then their behavior will be a possibility for it to change. References Almeida, J. (2009, August 1). Motional Distress Among LGBT Youth: The Influences of Perceived Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, p. 1014. Arviso, V. (2012). Honoring our Children . Evergreen : Evergreen College. Lewis, G. B. (2013). Black-white differences in attitudes toward homosexuality and gay rights. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67(1), 59-78. Noblius, A. M. (2003, June 23). Gender and Medicine. Retrieved from Monash University Medicine, Nursing And Health Sciences: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/gendermed/sexandgender.html#content Powlishta, A. J. (2009, September 10). Gay Stereotypes: The Use of Sexual Orientation as a Cue for Gender-Related Attributes. Retrieved from Proquest Web: http://search.proquest.com/docview/225363069/fulltextPDF?accountid=36202 Williams, W. L. (n.d.). The Two-spirit People of Indigenous North America. Retrieved from First People :

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