The Dichotomy Of Disney's Pocahontas, The Indian Princess

This dichotomy was not emplaced to serve Indigenous woman, but to serve colonizers, modern “white man” and their quest of pleasure and ownership. During the time of colonization, the ‘Indian Princess’ played a key role. It helped the idea of converting Aboriginal ‘savages’ into the civilized English way of life.#1 (Isinamowin,1992, p.18) An opportunity to take an Aboriginal woman away from her people, on the behalf of colonizers. Thus, pleasing European males. Although, this notion is pretty outdated, this belief is still imposed today. #2 (Anderson, 2016, p.81) Disney, for an example and their movie Pocahontas, which pictures the main lead falling in love with a European explorer, who she saves from her people. Thus, leaving her ‘community’

to follow him and his European life.

Reason 2: Swoon
If you weren’t regarded as a princess, then you must be a squaw! #6 Isinamowin p. 19 Unlike, the pure ‘Indian Princess’, the ‘Squaw’ was the ’easy’ princess. She was higly sexualize and devalued in comparison to other women (white, ‘Indian Princess’). #3 (Isinamowin,1992, p.20) This helped colonizers, because it gave them the chance to ignore pleas for better living conditions on reserves; since these women were stereotyped as being lazy whores who depended of the government. #4 (Anderson, 2016, p.83) In addition, the ‘Squaw’ helped to define the line between what ‘white femininity’ should resemble, in comparison to the dirty dark Aboriginal ‘Squaw’. Notions such as: “Where Native woman had sexual liberty, white women were restricted from pleasure. The Native women was then perceived as easy.” #5 (Anderson, 2016, p.84) Even, indigenous men themselves believed this notion and married a white woman for the chance to be considered as being more successful, than marrying a Native woman. #6 (Isinamowin,1992, p.21)