Female Characters Combatting Male Patriarchy in Tracks Anonymous 10th Grade

The issue of male dominance has long been one of the most prevalent issues in history, male elitism dating all the way back to the beginnings of humanity. Similar to most communities, Native American tribes are no exception to the blatant misogyny against women inflicted by men, whether it’s in regards to the society’s brutally torturous treatment of women in the past, or the outstandingly high sexual assault rate amongst the female population in the present. As a result, in order to overcompensate for the inequality amongst men and women, strong Native American women have found themselves working to gain their own power, a privilege that was not automatically handed to them when they were born a girl. In Tracks by Louise Erdrich, the three female leads are viewed as powerful, strong, and dominant, signifying the complete opposite of the fragile, weak, and timid stereotypes inflicted on women in the past. Throughout their journey, the female characters of Tracks circumvent the patriarchy through many tactics: Fleur, by using her sexuality and femininity to her advantage; Pauline, by demanding power through violence and her white roots; and Margaret through her authority and willingness to endure.

Rather than obtaining power...