Why Did Some Native Americans Become Berdache

question 31

Multiple Choice

Why did some Native Americans become berdache?

• A) Berdache were skilled hunters and earned great wealth through the fur trade.
• B) Berdache were war leaders and were often sought by Native women as husbands.
• C) Berdache were medicine women who had a stronger voice in the tribal council.
• D) Berdache were spiritual individuals whose vision quest dictated they cross gender lines.

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Definitions:

Mucous Membrane

A protective lining found in various parts of the body such as nose, mouth, and lungs, producing mucus.

Xanthoderma

A yellow discoloration of the skin, often resulting from prolonged consumption of foods high in carotene or jaundice.

Yellow Skin

A condition known as jaundice, which indicates a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, often a sign of liver disease.

Tubercle Bacilli

Bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, a disease affecting the lungs and sometimes other parts of the body.