The Politics of Cultural Representation

Dionisio Nyaga, Rose Ann Torres
2015 Sociology Study  
This paper focuses on the representational politics of the Aeta indigenous women healers in Cagayan Valley in the Philippines. Indigenous peoples have been represented as backward, irrational, and consequently non-human. For racialized women, it is a double tragedy. They face race and gender misrepresentation. This identification interns them on the margins of society. This colonial representation is being questioned and subverted through the narratives of 12 Aeta women healers in the
more » ... s. In order to make clarifications as to how they have been represented, the Aeta indigenous women healers discussed and elaborated their indigeneity, language, and spirituality. In turn, they contrast their healing practices with public health. Their hope is to amend the way they have been signified. It is a point where the totalizing narratives meet the subjugated knowledge with a call for fairer representation. This paper confirms that Aeta women healers do not need external representation. They can represent themselves. In fact, they have already been representing themselves. The big question is, are we listening? ; research fields: men and masculinities, critical masculinity, indigenous studies, anti-colonialism, post-colonialism, anti-racism, African studies, trans-national and diasporic studies, anti-oppressive social work and practice. Rose Ann Torres, Ph.D., Sociology of Education and Women and Gender Studies. Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto, Canada; research fields: women and gender studies, indigenous studies/feminism, post-colonial and anti-colonial theories, transnational feminism, sociology of education, racial and ethnic relations, and culture.
doi:10.17265/2159-5526/2015.09.007 fatcat:7qzh3ckkcrgqdomcrz6zyvyrgy