Conquest: Sexual Violence And American Indian Genocide

Andrea Smith

South End Press, 2005 - Education - 246 pages

A recognized Native American scholar and co-founder of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, the largest grassroots, multiracial feminist organization in the country, Andrea Smith (Cherokee) is an emerging leader in progressive political circles. In Conquest, Smith places Native American women at the center of her analysis of sexual violence, challenging both conventional definitions of the term and conventional responses to the problem.

Beginning with the impact of the abuses inflicted on Native American children at state-sanctioned boarding schools from the 1880s to the 1980s, Smith adroitly expands our conception of violence to include environmental racism, population control and the widespread appropriation of Indian cultural practices by whites and other non-natives. Smith deftly connects these and other examples of historical and contemporary colonialism to the high rates of violence against Native American women—the most likely women in the United States to die of poverty-related illnesses, be victims of rape and suffer partner abuse.

Essential reading for scholars and activists, Conquest is the powerful synthesis of Andrea Smith's intellectual and political work to date. By focusing on the impact of sexual violence on Native American women, Smith articulates an agenda that is compelling to feminists, Native Americans, other people of color and all who are committed to creating viable alternatives to state-based “solutions.”

What people are saying

Review: Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide

User Review  - Megan - Goodreads

Essential read for anyone who works within human, social, feminist, political rights frameworks. Really challenging concepts towards feminism, body politics, domestic violence, colonialism, nationalism, sovereignty, spirituality and transparency. Well written, page turner.

Review: Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide

User Review  - Astri Jack - Goodreads

devastating and unrelenting. This book of essays will shake to complacent from their seats.

About the author

Assistant professor in Native American Studies at University of Michigan, Smith cofounded INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, the largest grassroots multiracial feminist organization in the US. Her first book, Conquest, won the Myers Outstanding Book award. In 2005 Smith was endorsed by 1000 Women for Peace for a Nobel Prize nomination, one of only 40 Americans on the list.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Conquest: Sexual Violence And American Indian Genocide
• Author: Andrea Smith
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: South End Press, 2005
• ISBN: 0896087433, 9780896087439
• Length: 246 pages
• Subjects: Education / Multicultural Education; History / Military / General; History / Native American; Political Science / World / General; Social Science / Discrimination & Race Relations; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Native American Studies; Social Science / Minority Studies; Social Science / Sociology / General; Social Science / Violence in Society; Social Science / Women's Studies