Citation

Longstaffe M. Can. Hist. Rev. 2017; 98(2): 230-260.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, University of Toronto Press)

DOI

10.3138/chr.3215

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Through a discourse analysis of newspaper reports on the deaths of Indigenous women in Downtown Eastside Vancouver during the 1960s, this article provides a historical framework to expand our understanding of pervasive violence experienced by Indigenous women in the community. This analysis reveals that in attempting to raise the profile of the deaths of Indigenous women in the neighbourhood, journalists constructed a new trope - the "Skid Road Girl" - that re-inscribed old stereotypes and framed the city as non-Indigenous space. While reporters advocated for social reform, and provided a discursive context in which Indigenous activists could make their voices heard and gain support for their community and social service initiatives, their words reinforced damaging racist and sexist ideas and contributed to the normalization of violence against Indigenous women.

Language: en