Presentation Abstract

Student's Name: Emma Duffy '28

Co-registrant Names:

Type of Presentation: Poster

Presentation Title: "Matriarchal Foundations: The Influence of Iroquois and Navajo Societies on Feminist Ideals in the United States"

Abstract:

Matriarchal societies of the Iroquois Confederacy (Haudenosaunee) and Navajo (Diné) had a significant impact and influence on modern feminist movements in the United States. Prior to European contact, these Indigenous societies provided alternative models of government, highlighting gender equality, collective responsibility, and women’s leadership. Navajo traditions upheld matrilineal culture, economic autonomy, and the importance of motherhood, while the Iroquois featured Clan Mothers who appointed and deposed leaders and had significant political power. These structures contrasted with Euro-American patriarchal norms and offered themes that early feminists such as Matilda Joslyn Gage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton drew upon during the First Wave feminist movement. Despite the disruption caused by colonization and forced assimilation, Navajo and Iroquois women resisted cultural erasure, influencing later feminist waves by advocating for intersectionality, economic equity, and reproductive rights. This paper argues that the principles of Indigenous matriarchal societies continue to inspire contemporary feminist ideals of justice, inclusion, and equality, offering a model for addressing systemic oppression and building a more equal society.

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