DAUGHTERS OF THE EARTH

Rating:
Summary: Daughters of the Earth
Review: As a Native American woman I found this book to be very offensive. I was surprised by this authors lack of sensitivity and respect. The book is totally inaccurate and the author should be ashamed of herself.

Rating:
Summary: A book I enjoy reading again and again
Review: Carolyn Niethammer offers a wide-ranged collection of historical information, stories, myths, and taboos connected with the lives of American Indian women, using the female rites of passage as the structure of her book. Her style is mostly descriptive and provides an insight into the hardships, the challenges, and most of all the variety of the lives of American Indian women. I especially like that she lets those women "speak" by quoting them, and each time I read the book again, I am grateful that she does not comment on those quotations. I feel that by letting them stand for themselves, she makes it possible for the reader to catch some of the spirit of these women. Something else I like about this book is that it does not romanticize American Indian women, nor does it consider them primitives. But most of all it does not look upon their lives from a modern feminist point of view. To cut a long story short: if you want to gain an insight into American Indian women's lives of the past - read this book! The only other book on Native Americans I enjoyed as much as this one is "Man's Rise to Civilization" by Peter Farb.

Rating:
Summary: Offensive
Review: Daughters of the Earth is one of the most offensive books I have ever read about Native American women. More than anything, I am shocked and sickened by the lack of respect for the author's subject and what feels like tabloid pandering and sensationalism. On each occasion I consulted this book I have found the stories or descriptions to be the most extreme possible, and generally negative and disturbing. From specific details about how lesbian Native Americans make love to every imaginable sort of brutality and abuse. My point is that if you are looking for understanding about women from Native American culture, make certain to go to the source themselves. Do not assume that a few selected incidents, most horrific, are representative of an entire race and gender's experience. In all cultures, including American, there is abuse and discrimination against women. There are also powerful movements to counter these that involve understanding history, mythology and religion. Ultimately, you will find what you are seeking- just be mindful about what you discover. Daughters of the Earth lacks balance and respect.

Rating:
Summary: Offensive
Review: Daughters of the Earth is one of the most offensive books I have ever read about Native American women. More than anything, I am shocked and sickened by the lack of respect for the author's subject and what feels like tabloid pandering and sensationalism. On each occasion I have opened this book while doing research I have found the stories or descriptions to be the most extreme possible, and generally negative and disturbing. From specific details about how lesbian Native Americans make love to every imaginable sort of brutality and abuse. My point is that if you are looking for understanding about women from Native American culture, make certain to go to the source themselves. Do not assume that a few selected incidents, most horrific, are representative of an entire gender's experience. In all cultures, including American, there is abuse and discrimination against women. There are also powerful movements to counter these that involve understanding history, mythology and religion. Ultimately, you will find what you are seeking- just be mindful about what you discover. Daughters of the Earth lacks balance and respect.

Rating:
Summary: Beautful
Review: This is a beautiful book about beautiful women....This book was given to me for Christmas and I loved it so much that I am buying them for friends as gifts..

Enjoy!

Wolakota,
Hanble Omani Winyan