Full Description
Inuit Women is the definitive study of the Inuit during a time of rapid change. Based on fourteen years of research and fieldwork, this analysis focuses on the challenges facing Inuit women as they enter the twenty-first century. Written shortly after the creation of Nunavut, a new province carved out of traditional Inuit homelands in the Canadian North, this compelling book combines conclusions drawn from the authors' ethnographic research with the stories of Inuit women and men, told in their own words.
In addition to their presentation of the personal portraits and voices of many Inuit respondents, Janet Mancini Billson and Kyra Mancini explore global issues: the impact of rapid social change and Canadian resettlement policy on Inuit culture; women's roles in society; and gender relations in Baffin Island, in the Eastern Arctic. They also include an extensive section on how the newly created territory of Nunavut is impacting the lives of Inuit women and their families. Working from a research approach grounded in feminist theory, the authors involve their Inuit interviewees as full participants in the process. This book stands alone in its attention to Inuit women's issues and lives and should be read by everyone interested in gender relations, development, modernization, globalization, and Inuit culture.
Contents
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: "The People"
Part II: Life Out on the Land
Chapter 2: Traditional Roles: Gender and Survival
Chapter 3: Traditional Power: A Delicate Balance
Chapter 4: Traditional Socialization: Learning by Doing
Part III: Metamorphosis
Chapter 5: The Bad Times: Starvation Stalked the Land
Chapter 6: Transforming Traditional Culture
Part IV: Living on the Edge
Chapter 7: Culture Shock and Marginality
Chapter 8: The Impacts of Resettlement
Chapter 9: Families Redefined
Part V: Life in Town: The Changing Balance of Power
Chapter 10: Contemporary Roles: The Female Advantage
Chapter 11: Contemporary Power: A Reversal of Position
Chapter 12: Contemporary Socialization: Passing on the Culture
Part VI: The Bonds of Intimacy
Chapter 13: Love and Living Together
Chapter 14: Marriage and Divorce
Part VII: The Challenges of Change
Chapter 15: Violence against Women and Children: The Complexities of Power
Part VIII: A New Century Emerges
Chapter 16: The Promise and Price of Education
Chapter 17: The Meaning of Work
Part IX: The Road to Equality
Chapter 18: Women's Rights and Political Participation
Chapter 19: Nunavut: Defining a New Political Identity
