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This shows just how limited the type of work the women were able to do. The
men in Sultanas society used colonialism to alienate womens work
opportunities by keeping them in the zenana and away from the outside. To
demonstrate this alienation further, Sultana says to Sister Sara, How my friends
at home will be amused and amazed, when I go back and tell them that in
the far-off Ladyland, ladies rule over the country and control all social
matters, while gentlemen are kept in the Mardanas to mind babies, to cook
and to do all sorts of domestic work; and that cooking is so easy a thing that
it is simply a pleasure to cook!(). Here we see what type of work women
usually do in Sultanas land without the choice for other options. They had no
say in their work opportunities whatsoever. The colonial structure of her land
was the cause for this marginalization.
Likewise, Native Americans (Indians) also were marginalized by
colonialism through their work. They were forced to partake in jobs and learn
skills they did not need. Carolyn Marr in her essay Assimilation through
Education: Indian Boarding Schools in the Pacific Northwest, mentions this,
[one] important component of the government policy for civilizing the
Indians was to teach farming techniques. Although few reservations in the
Pacific Northwest had either fertile land or a climate conducive to agriculture,
nonetheless it was felt that farming was the proper occupation for American
citizens (326). The natives did have any power against their colonial invader
(Americans) so they had to make due with the terrible farming conditions
and the unfamiliarity of working in one fixed place. Colonialism demeaned
the Natives from hunters to basic famers. The American colonists took
advantage of the Native labor, The work performed by students was
essential to the operation of the institution. The meat, vegetables and milk
served in the dining room came from livestock and gardens kept by the
students. The girls made and repaired uniforms, sheets, and curtains and
helped to prepare the meals. (Marr 326). The American government used
young natives to provide work labor they should have been providing
themselves in their own educational institutions. This shows the lack of care
of the Americans for the Natives job opportunities, they were not much more
than an afterthought.
boon! They bowed low and entered the zenanas without uttering a single
word of protest (). This piece demonstrates just how limited womens
communication was because even when being ordered without good reason
they did not even argue. Their frustrations and unique opinions never leaving
their chests.
In a like manner, colonialism also marginalized the communication of
Native Americans. The foremost requirement for assimilation into American
society, authorities felt, was mastery of the English language. Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, T.J. Morgan, described English as the language of the
greatest, most powerful and enterprising nationalities beneath the
sun.(Marr 326). The Natives were taught that their own languages were an
inferior means of communication and that English was the language of
successful people. Bilingualism was not tolerated in the Indian boarding
schools. Students were prohibited from speaking their native languages and
those caught speaking Indian were severely punished. Later, many former
students regretted that they lost the ability to speak their native language
fluently because of the years they spent in boarding school (Marr 326). The
Native language was diminished and shamed as a source of communication
among there people. As a result of years of colonialism, the young natives
could not even communicate properly with their elder relatives.
In the final analysis, we can now see just how severe the
marginalization of women and Native Americans were due to colonialism.
Colonial structures and groups affected them both through lack of good
education, limited work option, and restricted means of communication.
Colonialism is a terrible thing and should be advocated against. Just the
couple examples provided of the demeaning effects and marginations of
people should be evidence enough. Though, colonialism is not an issue
today, it was once extremely popular. With this knowledge, advise against
all forms of colonialism and do not let history repeat itself.