Native American Women

Thèse de Bachelor , 2007 , 23 Pages , Note: 1,0

Philologie Américaine - Culture et Études de pays

In my Bachelor’s Thesis I want to introduce the culture of Native American women, and strike out especially their way of life and their importance in their tribes and communities. I want to deal with the issue of European and European American clichés about Native American women. When we as Europeans think about Native American women today we are influenced by different media like Hollywood movies and books about Native Americans. We might picture a bloodthirsty warrior, sitting on his horse, shouting, his tomahawk raised high above his head. Then we might see the lowly squaw with her baby tied to her back gathering food and little sticks for making a fire. We might also have the “Pocahontas-picture” in our mind and think of the romanticized story of the Indian princess that saved the life of a British soldier. I want to find out if some of these clichés are true and which ones were definitely fabricated by early settlers and continued by European whites who just did not understand Native American society.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Dealing with the Clichés
  • The Native American Culture
• Heirs of First Mother
  • The Role of Native American Women
• Living with the Legacy
  • Native American Women Today
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Bachelor's Thesis aims to explore the culture of Native American women, specifically examining their way of life, their significance within tribes and communities, and challenging the Eurocentric and European-American clichés surrounding them.

• European and European-American stereotypes about Native American women
• The role and position of Native American women in their communities
• The impact of European colonization on Native American culture and women's roles
• The legacy of Native American women and their adaptation to the modern world
• The importance of understanding Native American culture from an indigenous perspective

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the thesis, introducing the central themes of Native American women's culture and the need to challenge prevailing stereotypes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding Native American culture from their own perspective.
• Dealing with the Clichés: This chapter focuses on exploring the commonly held stereotypes of Native American women, tracing their origins and analyzing their impact. It examines how these stereotypes were perpetuated by early settlers and missionaries who sought to "civilize" Native Americans.
• Heirs of First Mother: This chapter delves into the role and significance of Native American women within their tribes and communities. It explores their traditional rights, responsibilities, and social standing, highlighting the importance of women in maintaining cultural identity and continuity.
• Living with the Legacy: This chapter examines the impact of European colonization on Native American women, analyzing the changes they have undergone since the arrival of the first settlers. It explores how they have adapted to the modern world while maintaining their cultural heritage and traditions.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis focuses on key concepts such as Native American women, culture, stereotypes, colonization, traditional roles, social standing, and the impact of European-American influence on indigenous perspectives.

• Université: University of Hildesheim
• Note: 1,0
• Auteur: Bachelor of Arts Nadine Thäder (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2007
• Pages: 23
• N° de catalogue: V88183
• ISBN (ebook): 9783638043656
• ISBN (Livre): 9783638940634
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Native, American, Women, Culture, Tribal culture, Native American