Native Men Are Being Raped | Nico Juárez | TEDxOU

so I want to talk to you today about

so I want to talk to you today about something that I think goes unaddressed

something that I think goes unaddressed

something that I think goes unaddressed in our everyday lives

in our everyday lives

in our everyday lives that is that I want to talk to you about

that is that I want to talk to you about

that is that I want to talk to you about intimate partner violence and sexual

intimate partner violence and sexual

intimate partner violence and sexual violence against Native American men now

violence against Native American men now

violence against Native American men now generally when we talk about these

generally when we talk about these

generally when we talk about these things the narratives we construct

things the narratives we construct

things the narratives we construct there’s kind of a nonspecific narrative

there’s kind of a nonspecific narrative

there’s kind of a nonspecific narrative about the violence that women face and I

about the violence that women face and I

about the violence that women face and I think this narrative is really important

think this narrative is really important

think this narrative is really important and I don’t want this to compete with

and I don’t want this to compete with

and I don’t want this to compete with that at all but what I’d like to do is

that at all but what I’d like to do is

that at all but what I’d like to do is examine the ways in which when we don’t

examine the ways in which when we don’t

examine the ways in which when we don’t take into account the intersections of

take into account the intersections of

take into account the intersections of identity one’s race socioeconomic status

identity one’s race socioeconomic status

identity one’s race socioeconomic status ability gender and sexuality we can

ability gender and sexuality we can

ability gender and sexuality we can create harmful assumptions about the

create harmful assumptions about the

create harmful assumptions about the ways that we act towards one another so

ways that we act towards one another so

ways that we act towards one another so men who go through this experience

men who go through this experience

men who go through this experience describe it as traumatic not just

describe it as traumatic not just

describe it as traumatic not just because of the obvious nature of the

because of the obvious nature of the

because of the obvious nature of the experience but because there’s this kind

experience but because there’s this kind

experience but because there’s this kind of interesting framing of masculinity of

of interesting framing of masculinity of

of interesting framing of masculinity of men as in volume are the ones who are

men as in volume are the ones who are

men as in volume are the ones who are always perpetuating this violence so

always perpetuating this violence so

always perpetuating this violence so when you have this you create these

when you have this you create these

when you have this you create these narratives where the voices of Native

narratives where the voices of Native

narratives where the voices of Native men often lost undocumented or forgotten

men often lost undocumented or forgotten

men often lost undocumented or forgotten because in the narratives of masculinity

because in the narratives of masculinity

because in the narratives of masculinity and femininity it is women who are raped

and femininity it is women who are raped

and femininity it is women who are raped in men who do that raping so what the

in men who do that raping so what the

in men who do that raping so what the problem here is though is that this

problem here is though is that this

problem here is though is that this creates a unique violence and the way

creates a unique violence and the way

creates a unique violence and the way that being framed as not only the

that being framed as not only the

that being framed as not only the perpetrators of this violence but being

perpetrators of this violence but being

perpetrators of this violence but being involved in a way that we often don’t

involved in a way that we often don’t

involved in a way that we often don’t think about and this problem isn’t small

think about and this problem isn’t small

think about and this problem isn’t small or inconsequential either the lifetime

or inconsequential either the lifetime

or inconsequential either the lifetime rate for sexual and intimate partner

rate for sexual and intimate partner

rate for sexual and intimate partner violence against Native American men is

violence against Native American men is

violence against Native American men is roughly the same for Native American

roughly the same for Native American

roughly the same for Native American women more than four and five which is

women more than four and five which is

women more than four and five which is vastly more than the national average

vastly more than the national average

vastly more than the national average more specifically one in four native men

more specifically one in four native men

more specifically one in four native men will experience sexual violence

will experience sexual violence

will experience sexual violence including being made to penetrate being

including being made to penetrate being

including being made to penetrate being penetrated or being coerced into having

penetrated or being coerced into having

penetrated or being coerced into having sex with another now in terms of

sex with another now in terms of

sex with another now in terms of intimate partner violence 43% and 73% of

intimate partner violence 43% and 73% of

intimate partner violence 43% and 73% of native men will experience physical or

native men will experience physical or

native men will experience physical or psychological violence in their

psychological violence in their

psychological violence in their lifetimes some of these rates are more

lifetimes some of these rates are more

lifetimes some of these rates are more than two times the rate of men

than two times the rate of men

than two times the rate of men nationally but when we look at lifetime

nationally but when we look at lifetime

nationally but when we look at lifetime rates of violence they don’t encapsulate

rates of violence they don’t encapsulate

rates of violence they don’t encapsulate how everyday in common this problem is

how everyday in common this problem is

how everyday in common this problem is in fact every year more than one in

in fact every year more than one in

in fact every year more than one in three native men will experience sexual

three native men will experience sexual

three native men will experience sexual violence psychological or physical

violence psychological or physical

violence psychological or physical intimate partner violence are stalking

intimate partner violence are stalking

intimate partner violence are stalking now you know usually when these things

now you know usually when these things

now you know usually when these things are going on people tend to ask you know

are going on people tend to ask you know

are going on people tend to ask you know what’s happening in our communities

what’s happening in our communities

what’s happening in our communities where are we going wrong and our

where are we going wrong and our

where are we going wrong and our families and relationships but the

families and relationships but the

families and relationships but the problem with this is that the majority

problem with this is that the majority

problem with this is that the majority of this violence is not coming from our

of this violence is not coming from our

of this violence is not coming from our communities more than nine in ten of the

communities more than nine in ten of the

communities more than nine in ten of the perpetrators of this violence for both

perpetrators of this violence for both

perpetrators of this violence for both Native American men and women are non

Native American men and women are non

Native American men and women are non natives and for Native American men the

natives and for Native American men the

natives and for Native American men the majority of these perpetrating these

majority of these perpetrating these

majority of these perpetrating these violence are women what does it mean for

violence are women what does it mean for

violence are women what does it mean for our narratives of sexual violence to

our narratives of sexual violence to

our narratives of sexual violence to understand white womanhood as a threat

understand white womanhood as a threat

understand white womanhood as a threat to native men in contrast to the

to native men in contrast to the

to native men in contrast to the historical narratives which opposition

historical narratives which opposition

historical narratives which opposition native men as savages who threaten the

native men as savages who threaten the

native men as savages who threaten the livelihoods of white women the reverse

livelihoods of white women the reverse

livelihoods of white women the reverse in our society seems to be true how do

in our society seems to be true how do

in our society seems to be true how do we address problems like this when intra

we address problems like this when intra

we address problems like this when intra community conversations aren’t grappling

community conversations aren’t grappling

community conversations aren’t grappling with or addressing the majority of the

with or addressing the majority of the

with or addressing the majority of the people who are perpetuating the problem

people who are perpetuating the problem

people who are perpetuating the problem in order to grapple with this issue

in order to grapple with this issue

in order to grapple with this issue somewhat I spent a summer at New York

somewhat I spent a summer at New York

somewhat I spent a summer at New York University studying sexual violence and

University studying sexual violence and

University studying sexual violence and the way that it impacts Native American

the way that it impacts Native American

the way that it impacts Native American men and women now the first answer to

men and women now the first answer to

men and women now the first answer to why this is happening is simple its

why this is happening is simple its

why this is happening is simple its colonisation some of Christopher

colonisation some of Christopher

colonisation some of Christopher Columbus’s first writings about Native

Columbus’s first writings about Native

Columbus’s first writings about Native Americans describe the land as a woman’s

Americans describe the land as a woman’s

Americans describe the land as a woman’s breasts calling for ravishment are

breasts calling for ravishment are

breasts calling for ravishment are described Native American women as

described Native American women as

described Native American women as particularly lascivious and this

particularly lascivious and this

particularly lascivious and this certainly creates historical context for

certainly creates historical context for

certainly creates historical context for Native American women’s violence but

Native American women’s violence but

Native American women’s violence but colonial writings on Native American men

colonial writings on Native American men

colonial writings on Native American men are somewhat stranger they seem to

are somewhat stranger they seem to

are somewhat stranger they seem to oscillate between you know savages who

oscillate between you know savages who

oscillate between you know savages who are coming to get every white woman and

are coming to get every white woman and

are coming to get every white woman and as undersexed

as undersexed

as undersexed whoo and failing to rape white women

whoo and failing to rape white women

whoo and failing to rape white women captives have failed to truly be men

captives have failed to truly be men

captives have failed to truly be men what does this mean for our collective

what does this mean for our collective

what does this mean for our collective imaginaries and the way that we think

imaginaries and the way that we think

imaginaries and the way that we think about Native men the first is that

about Native men the first is that

about Native men the first is that Native American men get hyper-sexualized

Native American men get hyper-sexualized

Native American men get hyper-sexualized the idea of Native Americans men and

the idea of Native Americans men and

the idea of Native Americans men and women as primitive and savage put them

women as primitive and savage put them

women as primitive and savage put them in this position of unconstrained

in this position of unconstrained

in this position of unconstrained sexuality outside of taboo and always

sexuality outside of taboo and always

sexuality outside of taboo and always ready to go and the Native Americans

ready to go and the Native Americans

ready to go and the Native Americans became this taboo site of desire but a

became this taboo site of desire but a

became this taboo site of desire but a sight of desire nonetheless and for

sight of desire nonetheless and for

sight of desire nonetheless and for Native American women you know this took

Native American women you know this took

Native American women you know this took and takes place in the sexual violence

and takes place in the sexual violence

and takes place in the sexual violence that plagues our communities but this

that plagues our communities but this

that plagues our communities but this added part of reluctance for native men

added part of reluctance for native men

added part of reluctance for native men creates this strange position where

creates this strange position where

creates this strange position where Native American men and colonial

Native American men and colonial

Native American men and colonial writings not only need to rape but need

writings not only need to rape but need

writings not only need to rape but need to be raped in order to become men and

to be raped in order to become men and

to be raped in order to become men and so you get this really strange and

so you get this really strange and

so you get this really strange and violent position that they’re placed

violent position that they’re placed

violent position that they’re placed with them now you know even past early

with them now you know even past early

with them now you know even past early colonial writings the way the law gets

colonial writings the way the law gets

colonial writings the way the law gets written around Native Americans is

written around Native Americans is

written around Native Americans is particularly problematic in 1885

particularly problematic in 1885

particularly problematic in 1885 Congress passed the Major Crimes Act

Congress passed the Major Crimes Act

Congress passed the Major Crimes Act which took away the ability for tribes

which took away the ability for tribes

which took away the ability for tribes to try perpetrators of serious assault

to try perpetrators of serious assault

to try perpetrators of serious assault and rape now the responsibility to try

and rape now the responsibility to try

and rape now the responsibility to try and investigate these things was

and investigate these things was

and investigate these things was supposed to fall on the Department of

supposed to fall on the Department of

supposed to fall on the Department of Justice but US attorneys declined to

Justice but US attorneys declined to

Justice but US attorneys declined to investigate 75% of all crimes that fit

investigate 75% of all crimes that fit

investigate 75% of all crimes that fit in these categories though on top of

in these categories though on top of

in these categories though on top of that in 1978 the US Supreme Court ruled

that in 1978 the US Supreme Court ruled

that in 1978 the US Supreme Court ruled in Oliphant V school Maj tribe of

in Oliphant V school Maj tribe of

in Oliphant V school Maj tribe of Indians that Native governments cannot

Indians that Native governments cannot

Indians that Native governments cannot try non-natives at all on reservations

try non-natives at all on reservations

try non-natives at all on reservations so with a problem where nine and ten of

so with a problem where nine and ten of

so with a problem where nine and ten of the perpetrators are not from our

the perpetrators are not from our

the perpetrators are not from our communities this is a huge problem so

communities this is a huge problem so

communities this is a huge problem so how is this going on and how do we

how is this going on and how do we

how is this going on and how do we grapple with this now you see in 2013

grapple with this now you see in 2013

grapple with this now you see in 2013 Congress tried to address this and

Congress tried to address this and

Congress tried to address this and something called the reauthorization of

something called the reauthorization of

something called the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act it was

the Violence Against Women Act it was

the Violence Against Women Act it was supposed to expand protections to Native

supposed to expand protections to Native

supposed to expand protections to Native women and defer some Authority to tribes

women and defer some Authority to tribes

women and defer some Authority to tribes and grappling with this this was an

and grappling with this this was an

and grappling with this this was an apparently good move but

apparently good move but

apparently good move but had a lot of problems first and foremost

had a lot of problems first and foremost

had a lot of problems first and foremost for it to be domestic violence or for it

for it to be domestic violence or for it

for it to be domestic violence or for it to be stalking the perpetrator had to

to be stalking the perpetrator had to

to be stalking the perpetrator had to have cohabitated with the victim at one

have cohabitated with the victim at one

have cohabitated with the victim at one point and be described as an intimate

point and be described as an intimate

point and be described as an intimate partner a second problem with this was

partner a second problem with this was

partner a second problem with this was that for it to be domestic violence

that for it to be domestic violence

that for it to be domestic violence there had to be proof of serious bodily

there had to be proof of serious bodily

there had to be proof of serious bodily injury a term that’s not defined in the

injury a term that’s not defined in the

injury a term that’s not defined in the act and when less than half of Native

act and when less than half of Native

act and when less than half of Native women are described as needing medical

women are described as needing medical

women are described as needing medical services this is a huge problem for it

services this is a huge problem for it

services this is a huge problem for it to be considered stalking for example

to be considered stalking for example

to be considered stalking for example there had to be a violation of a formal

there had to be a violation of a formal

there had to be a violation of a formal protection order but those are expensive

protection order but those are expensive

protection order but those are expensive and difficult to get and often worlds

and difficult to get and often worlds

and difficult to get and often worlds away for Native people and finally you

away for Native people and finally you

away for Native people and finally you know none of this Act addresses any of

know none of this Act addresses any of

know none of this Act addresses any of the things that happen to Native men

the things that happen to Native men

the things that happen to Native men less than one-fourth of Native men are

less than one-fourth of Native men are

less than one-fourth of Native men are described as needing medical services or

described as needing medical services or

described as needing medical services or have been seriously injured in reports

have been seriously injured in reports

have been seriously injured in reports the definition for rape in this act does

the definition for rape in this act does

the definition for rape in this act does not include being made to penetrate and

not include being made to penetrate and

not include being made to penetrate and fundamentally it doesn’t address these

fundamentally it doesn’t address these

fundamentally it doesn’t address these structural characteristics of how sexual

structural characteristics of how sexual

structural characteristics of how sexual violence gets talked and approached by

violence gets talked and approached by

violence gets talked and approached by officers of the law

officers of the law

officers of the law so while it appears to do something good

so while it appears to do something good

so while it appears to do something good it really isn’t doing much for our

it really isn’t doing much for our

it really isn’t doing much for our communities it just creates the solution

communities it just creates the solution

communities it just creates the solution that the u.s. government is tackling a

that the u.s. government is tackling a

that the u.s. government is tackling a problem that itself is kind of

problem that itself is kind of

problem that itself is kind of responsible for so what do we do how do

responsible for so what do we do how do

responsible for so what do we do how do we handle this you know at the broadest

we handle this you know at the broadest

we handle this you know at the broadest level will mean we need to be

level will mean we need to be

level will mean we need to be dismantling the laws and practices that

dismantling the laws and practices that

dismantling the laws and practices that have made this policy come into being we

have made this policy come into being we

have made this policy come into being we need to be overturning and making undone

need to be overturning and making undone

need to be overturning and making undone court cases that you know are based on

court cases that you know are based on

court cases that you know are based on 100 year old racist ideas about native

100 year old racist ideas about native

100 year old racist ideas about native incompetency as students and scholars we

incompetency as students and scholars we

incompetency as students and scholars we need to be changing the way that we’re

need to be changing the way that we’re

need to be changing the way that we’re talking about masculinity we need to be

talking about masculinity we need to be

talking about masculinity we need to be changing the way that we’re approaching

changing the way that we’re approaching

changing the way that we’re approaching sexual violence and we need to be

sexual violence and we need to be

sexual violence and we need to be directing our time energy and resources

directing our time energy and resources

directing our time energy and resources to Native struggles because everything

to Native struggles because everything

to Native struggles because everything that takes powers away from native

that takes powers away from native

that takes powers away from native people feeds back into this very problem

people feeds back into this very problem

people feeds back into this very problem this is not what our communities are

this is not what our communities are

this is not what our communities are doing native feminists have been

doing native feminists have been

doing native feminists have been grappling with this issue for decades

grappling with this issue for decades

grappling with this issue for decades it’s what non natives have been doing to

it’s what non natives have been doing to

it’s what non natives have been doing to us which means it is the onus is on them

us which means it is the onus is on them

us which means it is the onus is on them to change their behavior their

to change their behavior their

to change their behavior their communities and the way their answer

communities and the way their answer

communities and the way their answer acting with Native Americans thank you

acting with Native Americans thank you

acting with Native Americans thank you [Applause]