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Women In Native American Culture

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Native women have been highly sexualized throughout pop culture and history. There are a number of examples that come to mind–the story of Pocahontas, or Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, or Gwen Stefani in her “Looking Hot” video, or even the Land ‘O’ Lakes Girl–the “Indian Princess” stereotype is far and wide. A current example of an American Indian stereotype happened in 2012. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show caused some controversy as their model, Karlie Kloss, strutted along the catwalk. She wore a tiny leopard print bikini, high heels with leather fringes around her ankles and hips, a large turquoise pendant, matching rings, bracelets and a belt. Her most alarming accessory, however, was a lofty Native American headdress. Kloss’s garb was designed …show more content…
This perception of Native American women is unruly and untrue. In The Pocahontas Perplex written by Rayna Green she states, “...the Indian woman suffers from our needs, and by both race and sex stands damned.” The view of Native women in American culture is an intolerable metaphor. By perpetuating stereotypes of Native women as sexual objects, America aids the cyclical continuation of violence. Despite what dominant society and mainstream media say, stereotypes and discrimination are still ever present in the world we live in today. These stereotypes have created a distortion of how every Native individual “should be.” According to an Amnesty International study, 70% of sexual violence against Native women is committed by non-Natives. This sexual manipulation has created a real life crisis for Native girls. One out of every three Native American women is raped in her lifetime (Amnesty International Report, 2008). This ‘sexy squaw’ perception has depersonalized women into powerless things. "The fact that Native American and Alaska Native women have been dehumanized throughout US history informs present-day attitudes. It helps fuel the high rates of sexual violence perpetrated against them and the high levels of impunity enjoyed by their attackers" (Amnesty International Report, 2008). Sexual violence and manipulation are tools of conquest and destruction to Native

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