Journal #13 Sarah Winnemucca

Shirly Ong
English 48B
1 February, 2008
Journal #13 Sarah Winnemucca

Quote:
“The Women know as much as the men do, and their advice is often asked…The council-tent is our Congress, and anybody can speak who has anything to say, women and all. They are always interested in what their husbands are doing and thinking about. And they take some part even in the wars.”

Summary:
Sarah Winnemucca is introducing the council-tent, where the Piutes discuss everything. She points out that women can also participate in the discussion.

Response:
In this quote, Sarah Winnemucca’s main point is to tell us how the Piutes women’s statuses are equal to that of the Piutes men. The council-tent, which is the chief’s tent and the largest tent, is an important place where the Piute discuss everything. Yet, women and even children can go in and join the discussion if they wish to. As far as I know, many ancient cultures, like the Chinese culture, prohibit this. Women and children were kept away from the discussion place. Moreover, at the discussion place, the highest chiefs had the absolute right to rule and judge. By contrast, according to Sarah Winnemucca, the Piute chiefs “do not rule like tyrants”. They welcome very much for advice and opinion from their people, including those from women. Equality between men and women in the Piutes nation surprises me. To me, many women were kept at home and expected to take care of the children only in the past. They can never involve in the men’s discussion. In the Piutes nations, the couples do everything together. They take care of the family and the children together. They discuss everything together. This is a very good practice. As proved by today’s trend, inequality between men and women should be abolished.