Sexual Violence as a Tool of Indigenous Genocide

Throughout American history, sexual violence against Native Americans has been an all-too common phenomenon. This ranges from outright rape to less obvious examples, including the desecration of native bodies and the separation of native children from their parents, such as at the boarding schools. Analyzing Sexual Violence as a Tool of Genocide by Andrea Smith, along with a variety of other sources, this article argues that sexual violence against native peoples reinforces the colonial idea that they are subhuman and rapable. Additionally, I also argue that this violence is used to subjugate not just native women, but all women, particularly white women