Peoples´ attitudes towards women and how they reflect their philosophy of life
For a long time in European literature there has been the tale of a white man going to a foreign, often exotic country where he faces some kind of trouble or danger. Before losing his life he is rescued by a native woman who falls in love with him and often follows him to his country, adopting his way of life. The best known version of this tale is the national myth of Pocahontas and John Smith, effecting American imagination to a great extent. However, even before Pocahontas showed up Europeans expressed their vision of Indian women as split characters, half evil and half good, in what Rayna Green calls the Pocahontas Perplex. By contrasting Native American and European visions of women this essay claims that the attitude towards Indian women reflects the Native American as well as the European philosophy of life. On the one hand we have a holistic “shame culture”, i.e. based on honor, duty and collaboration, and on the other hand a dualistic “guilt culture” based on property, status and material possessions. The political importance of women in the League of the Iroquois is a model Native American perception of Indian women. In this society the basic unit of government is the “hearth”, comprising a mother and children. Larger units are made up of an otiianer, a word which itself refers to female heirs. Several of these otiianers constitute a clan.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Peoples' Attitudes towards Women and How They Reflect Their Philosophy of Life
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the contrasting perspectives on women in Native American and European cultures, arguing that these attitudes reflect fundamental philosophical differences. The author aims to demonstrate how the portrayal of Indian women in European literature and mythology reveals a dualistic, "guilt culture" focused on property and status, while Native American views, exemplified by the Iroquois League, embody a holistic "shame culture" based on honor, duty, and collaboration.- The contrast between European and Native American attitudes towards women.
- The role of women in Native American societies, particularly the Iroquois League.
- The impact of European colonial stereotypes on the image of Indian women, specifically the "Pocahontas Perplex."
- The development of the "Indian Princess" and "Indian Squaw" archetypes in European literature and their significance.
- The connection between cultural worldviews and representations of gender roles.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Peoples' Attitudes towards Women and How They Reflect Their Philosophy of Life: This essay examines how European and Native American cultures hold contrasting perspectives on women. It introduces the "Pocahontas Perplex," a concept coined by Rayna Green that describes the European portrayal of Native American women as both good and evil. The author argues that this split perspective reflects a dualistic worldview in European culture, while Native American cultures embrace a more holistic view of women's roles and importance.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay focuses on the themes of gender, culture, philosophy, and representation. It explores the impact of colonial stereotypes and the contrasting worldviews of European and Native American societies. Key concepts include the "Pocahontas Perplex," "shame culture," "guilt culture," the Iroquois League, and the archetypes of the "Indian Princess" and "Indian Squaw."- Quote paper
- B.A. Stephanie Wössner (Author), 2001, The Pocahontas Perplex, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138140
