Intersectionality of Race and Sex in “The Search Engine” Ally Schrieber College

The identity of Native Americans has been challenged by cultures other than their own. The different races in America have created a challenging environment for Indians to find their identity and idea of belonging. Two ways in which an identity can form a sense of belonging are race and sex. “The Search Engine”, a short story in the book Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie, shows how both race and sex shape identity in the main character, Corliss. While race and sex individually shape Corliss’ identity they both intersect to form another aspect of belonging. This intersection of each idea is important to recognize because it provides information on how Corliss’ life has shaped her identity. The prevalence of the impact of race, sex, and the intersectionality of both in “The Search Engine” are vital in understanding the role of identity and belonging in the Native American race.

In “The Search Engine” the main character, Corliss, finds herself caught between two races, caucasian and indian. Corliss identifies herself with the Spokane Indian tribe, but feels ties to white culture as she delves into poetry written by white men. “Who could ever understand how a nineteen-year-old Indian woman looked in the mirror and sometimes saw...