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Mixed Gender Roles in Native American Culture

            The movie, "Two Spirits" takes a look at the world in a time when gender was not simply divided into male and female among Native American cultures. It explores the traditional Navajo belief in four genders and how it have changed over time. Fred Martinez was a male-bodied person with a feminine nature which was honorable according to his ancient Navajo culture. However, homophobia from European settlers tainted Indian perceptions of multiple genders and Martinez, like so many other gay and transgendered people became a victim of a hate crime.
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             Over time , Navajo people have become somewhat acculturated with Western ideas of gender but there are still many differences when comparing the views of gender identity between Native culture and Western culture.
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             'Two Spirit' is the term used to describe people who fulfill one of many mixed gender roles found traditionally among Native Cultures. They are usually people whose bodies manifests as both masculine and feminine spirit simultaneously. Two Spirit people usually work and wear clothing associated with both men and women. The Navajo culture traditionally values the balance of masculine and feminine to maintain sacred order, so someone who is gifted with an understanding of both is seen as valuable, and is treated with respect. This is unlike Western culture where gender variant people have been treated as outcast from society for years. The AIDS epidemic only made homophobia and transphobia worst. Also Western culture is not as complex and forces people who are gender variant to choose one gender along with gender roles to match. Transgendered may be seen as the equivalent of two spirited however western society usually view gender variant people as less than heterosexuals or people who identify to a specific gender, they are not valued for the gender autonomy within Western culture.
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             Similar to Western behaviour, One's connection or proximity to the space that they grew up has an effect on how they associate with their gender identity.


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