European Images of Native American Women

According to what I read from other sources, in most Native cultures, Native women were considered equal to men. Even though, Native societies was the sexual division of labor; Native women were respected and valued for their contribution.  Because it was a culture where men and women created equally, Native women engaged and participated in term of helping the survival of family. Their knowledge, their skill to find/reserve sustenance and their voice in family matters was all appreciated.

It also was a culture where women were in charge for educating the future generation. “She” was responsible to past down the practice/custom, knowledge and keep the tradition move on 

 It was a good place for women to live until the Europeans came and “awake” America

“American Natives were uncivilized, barbaric, and cannibalistic” (pg.37) and chose to portray a New World as a woman—European society and values about women were very “modern” (woman was to be a subject to serve man, powerless, inferior, etc.).  These were a promotion, self-supportive to chase, take over other’s place.  With the invasion from Europeans, the life of Native Americans became dark, especially Native women.  From the culture where they were respected, they struggled with sexism, even with her own people, thanks to the influence from European’s culture of the past.  “Woman and man do not created EQUALLY” Native women all of sudden sat at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They got abuse from man, and had no voice whatsoever in politic matters