Native Americans and Gender

Native Americans are indigenous to the lands now known as the United States and have experienced a 400-year history of oppression and prejudice. Many of the historical stereotypic images and racist attitudes persist, affecting the psychological well-being of Native Americans. This entry addresses some of the major psychological aspects of gender for Native Americans, including gendered stereotypes and related consequences, gender roles within tribal populations, and sexual and gender identity.

There are many terms commonly used to label American Indians, and as there is no single preferred term, this entry uses the terms (American) Indian, Native (American), Tribal, and Indigenous interchangeably. Indigenous people may identify with any of these terms, but most prefer to identify with their tribe or clan first and foremost. As of the ...