Gender, sexuality relations, and the case of Kiriri women in the struggle for and with territories: An indigenous feminist geography perspective

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive exploration of gender relations within the Kiriri village-world, with a specific focus on the intricate dynamics that unfold during the territorial demarcation process and the emergence of female leadership. These dynamics disrupt traditional gender roles through a lens of global and colonial gender perspectives. The study critiques the conventional approach of modernity that categorizes terms in homogenous, atomic, and isolated ways, and highlights the pressing need for understanding the nuanced interplay of race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender, especially in the realm of indigenous feminism. Through a post-critical participatory qualitative research approach, employing critical discourse analysis as a primary method, the research uncovers how Kiriri women, driven by internal territorial pressures, redefine their roles from traditional domestic and reproductive spheres to embrace new identities as indigenous ecofeminists and stewards of the land. This transformation reflects a broader resistance to the influence of colonial capitalist neoliberal modernity on gender dynamics within indigenous territories, offering valuable insights into the ongoing struggle to reclaim and reshape these spaces.

Keywords: Gender; Territories; Indigenous Feminist Geography; Decolonial Feminisms.