What this Awl Means What this Awl Means

Feminist Critiques of ArchaeologyFeminist Critiques of Archaeology

What this Awl meansWhat this Awl means

Introduction to feminism in AnthropologyIntroduction to feminism in AnthropologyFeminist approaches past, present and futureFeminist approaches past, present and future

Examples of feminist work in archaeology, Examples of feminist work in archaeology, both historic and prehistoric.both historic and prehistoric.

Group Discussion of readingsGroup Discussion of readingsDiscussion and Annotated Refs due Friday Discussion and Annotated Refs due Friday

4/28/064/28/06

The Feminist MovementThe Feminist Movement

Historical contextsHistorical contexts Women in the labor force: The Great Depression, Women in the labor force: The Great Depression,

WWII Lead to changes in how women viewed their WWII Lead to changes in how women viewed their opportunities.opportunities.

The Civil Rights movement – learned valuable The Civil Rights movement – learned valuable lessons about how to participate in a social lessons about how to participate in a social movement. However, could not express discontent movement. However, could not express discontent because feminist issues had to take a backseat.because feminist issues had to take a backseat.

Kennedy’s commission to study the status of women Kennedy’s commission to study the status of women in the US. Equal Pay Act 1963.in the US. Equal Pay Act 1963.

Feminism in AnthropologyFeminism in Anthropology

Feminism in AnthropologyFeminism in Anthropology

11stst appears in ethnology. appears in ethnology. Rosaldo and Lamphere 1974: Rosaldo and Lamphere 1974: Woman, Woman,

Culture and SocietyCulture and SocietyCollection of essays that focus on women Collection of essays that focus on women

and women’s roles in society.and women’s roles in society.One of the first overt discussions of One of the first overt discussions of

gender inequality in Anthropology. Both gender inequality in Anthropology. Both the structure and the universal nature of the structure and the universal nature of inequality.inequality.

Feminism in AnthropologyFeminism in Anthropology

CriticismsCriticisms Is inequality universal?Is inequality universal?Early feminism was rooted in western Early feminism was rooted in western

ideology. Much of the criticism came from ideology. Much of the criticism came from women of color – gender could not be isolated women of color – gender could not be isolated from race, class and sexuality.from race, class and sexuality.

The criticisms lead to a new way of looking at The criticisms lead to a new way of looking at gender.gender.

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology

Started out as a critique, in the early ’80’sStarted out as a critique, in the early ’80’s Conkey and Spector 1984: Archaeology and the Conkey and Spector 1984: Archaeology and the

Study of Gender.Study of Gender. Focused on putting women in the archaeological Focused on putting women in the archaeological

record.record. Looking at biases within the work and within the field.Looking at biases within the work and within the field.

Post-modernist? Post-processualist?Post-modernist? Post-processualist? Both are notably silent on the subject.Both are notably silent on the subject. Depends on the approaches taken by the feminist Depends on the approaches taken by the feminist

authors.authors.

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology Women in prehistory were non-existent or given Women in prehistory were non-existent or given

passive roles.passive roles. Emphasis was placed on men’s work, such as Emphasis was placed on men’s work, such as

hunting, butchering, tool making, etc.hunting, butchering, tool making, etc. Women’s roles were seen as restricted to the Women’s roles were seen as restricted to the

domestic sphere and taken for granted. Any domestic sphere and taken for granted. Any innovation was assumed to be a male invention. innovation was assumed to be a male invention. Ex: Agriculture, cooking.Ex: Agriculture, cooking.

Biases affected not only what was being studied, Biases affected not only what was being studied, but who was studying it. Women studied pottery but who was studying it. Women studied pottery and men studied stone tools, women ran labs and men studied stone tools, women ran labs and men excavated.and men excavated.

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology

Biases trickled into main stream culture.Biases trickled into main stream culture.Man the HunterMan the Hunter

Greatest achievements in evolution were Greatest achievements in evolution were based on male hunting activities, disregards based on male hunting activities, disregards evolution of cooking and other advancements.evolution of cooking and other advancements.

Imposes modern gender roles and ideology Imposes modern gender roles and ideology on early hominids.on early hominids.

Man the HunterMan the Hunter

Man the HunterMan the Hunter

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology

Women’s place in the discipline.Women’s place in the discipline.Victor and Beaudry 1992Victor and Beaudry 1992A study conducted in the late ’80’s looking at A study conducted in the late ’80’s looking at

the representation of men vs women in the representation of men vs women in American Antiquity and Historical ArchaeologyAmerican Antiquity and Historical Archaeology

Feminism in ArchaeologyFeminism in Archaeology

Necessary, but provided a very simplistic Necessary, but provided a very simplistic view of genderview of gender

The critiques that mentioned in ethnology The critiques that mentioned in ethnology apply to archaeology as well.apply to archaeology as well.Western views of gender applied too liberallyWestern views of gender applied too liberally

Focus shifted to understanding genderFocus shifted to understanding gender