Lecture 6 – Colonialism, Patriarchy &
Bureaucracy
Colonialism & Patriarchy
Indigenous Societies Before Colonialism
● In many Indigenous communities (e.g., Haudenosaunee/Iroquois in North America),
women had major political and economic roles.
● Women often controlled agriculture (the key source of food and wealth).
● Some societies were matrilineal → descent and inheritance passed through the
mother’s line.
● Women could also be leaders in councils, selecting or advising chiefs.
Key point: Patriarchy was not “universal.” Pre-colonial societies often had different gender
balances of power.
Impact of Colonialism
● European colonizers brought patriarchal norms with them.
● They systematically undermined women’s authority by:
○ Recognizing only male leaders as “legitimate” political representatives.
○ Restructuring land ownership and property rights to favor men.
○ Promoting male-dominated farming systems and pushing women out of
productive roles.
● Missionaries reinforced patriarchy by teaching European gender roles (women as
caregivers, men as public figures).
Example: In Canada, missionaries portrayed Indigenous women as “uncivilized” or “immoral,”
justifying their exclusion from politics and reinforcing colonial stereotypes.
Discourse & Gender
Bureaucracy
Colonialism & Patriarchy
Indigenous Societies Before Colonialism
● In many Indigenous communities (e.g., Haudenosaunee/Iroquois in North America),
women had major political and economic roles.
● Women often controlled agriculture (the key source of food and wealth).
● Some societies were matrilineal → descent and inheritance passed through the
mother’s line.
● Women could also be leaders in councils, selecting or advising chiefs.
Key point: Patriarchy was not “universal.” Pre-colonial societies often had different gender
balances of power.
Impact of Colonialism
● European colonizers brought patriarchal norms with them.
● They systematically undermined women’s authority by:
○ Recognizing only male leaders as “legitimate” political representatives.
○ Restructuring land ownership and property rights to favor men.
○ Promoting male-dominated farming systems and pushing women out of
productive roles.
● Missionaries reinforced patriarchy by teaching European gender roles (women as
caregivers, men as public figures).
Example: In Canada, missionaries portrayed Indigenous women as “uncivilized” or “immoral,”
justifying their exclusion from politics and reinforcing colonial stereotypes.
Discourse & Gender
