Westernization of the Cherokee Marriage Traditions and Distribution of Gender Roles

Abstract

Christian missionaries had a strong influence on Native Americans’ and particularly the Cherokees’ way of living, which resulted in cultural assimilation. Due to this impact and modern ways of living, the Cherokees had been in a constant state of change. The main purpose of this article is to elaborate and understand the impact of Christian missionaries on the Cherokees lifestyle, distribution of power between the Cherokee man and woman, and the transformation from a traditional style of Cherokee marriage to more Westernized methods. This change implies every aspect of marriage in the Cherokee community, from the use of dances, feasts, and festivals as a means of courtship to the marriage ceremony itself and interracial marriage and impact of Christianity following the massive movement of white settlers into the Cherokee territory.