Sexualization of Indigenous women through cultural appropriation and media

     Sexualization of First Nations’ women has been an issue that has persisted since colonization, and continues to persist today. 

     As it continues, it can take form as cultural appropriation. From Halloween costumes, to popular stereotypes, and to offensive sex symbols, continuation of this harmful representation can greatly affect the Indigenous community. While these things might not seem like a big deal to non-Indigenous people, they are offensive, and continue to support outdated stereotypes and ideals about Indigenous people. 

     Though it continues to exist within pop culture, media, and everyday life, this is an issue that should stop completely and without debate.

Sexualization through Halloween costumes:

     With that, let’s talk about Halloween costumes. Halloween costumes have been a controversial topic for many years. Many stores online and in-person sell “Native American” costumes. Many non-Indigenous people have dressed up in inappropriate and offensive attire that is “Native inspired.” They wear this attire on Halloween, to carnivals, and to festivals. As we look further, we can see another issue that comes to light that may stay hidden if not examined in the first place: Sexualization.

     Many, if not most or all, “Native inspired” costumes for women, are designed to show off the body, and have sexual titles. A quick Google search can show you these costumes. There are titles with keywords such as “Sexy” and “Seductress.” There’s even a costume labelled “Pocahottie.” The designs for these costumes are incredibly revealing. Many of these costumes show most of the leg, usually stopping mid-thigh. Some costumes include low-cut and plunging necklines. 

     These costumes further the stereotypes of Indigenous women being sexually provocative.

     Another issue is the difference in “Native American” costumes for men and women. Some men’s costumes include keywords such as “Noble,” “Warrior,” and “Brave,” while most of the women’s costumes have titles that revolve around sexuality. 

    What good comes from using stereotypical terms in First Nation’s mens costumes, and implying that First Nations women are sexually revealing and promiscuous? Are these titles simply just costume names, or does the issue have a much deeper meaning?

Stereotypes against Indigenous women:

Now that only a bit of the issue surrounding “Native Inspired” Halloween costumes has been examined, let’s look at another harmful stereotype that is detrimental to First Nations’ women and First Nations’ people as a whole; The “Indian Princess” stereotype. 

    The Indian Princess stereotype involves an Indigenous woman, usually the daughter of the strong, ruthless “Indian Chief,” and portrays her as desirable, beautiful, and untouchable, by, mostly, White men. She is usually submissive, helps the settlers out, and falls in love with a White man instead of the man her father and/or tribe “picked” for her.

     A perfect example of this would be Disney’s Pocahontas. It would seem her entire story in the film is based on this stereotype. This stereotype is harmful because it can lead to further fetishization of First Nations’ women, as “Pocahontas” or “Tiger Lily’ is used as a slur or as an attempt as a compliment towards Indigenous women, and it is harmful because it implies that First Nations’ women are just caricatures in mainstream media and Hollywood fantasies; an entire race of women shaped into offensive and ugly European cultural ideals that still exist today because of ignorance and unwillingness to listen and learn from a constantly misrepresented community of people.

      Learning and understanding why this stereotype is harmful and inappropriate can help stop or decrease the sexualization and fetishization of Indigenous women.

     Speaking of Pocahontas, the Disney version of her is widely used in pop culture as a sex symbol. She is sexualized through Halloween costumes, and in November of 2017, rapper Nicki Minaj posted a photo of three versions of herself as Pocahontas. These versions of Pocahontas are incredibly sexualized and inappropriate. 

Nicki Minaj’s “Paper” cover, which includes a highly sexualized version of “Pocahontas.”

     This is a problem because she was a real person who was a victim of rape and pedophilia by John Rolfe. Her real name was Matoaka, though her birth name was Amonute. There has been a debate about how old she was when John Rolfe first arrived. Some say she was a teenager, and some say she was only eleven years old, but she was most definitely still a child. 

     As myself and many others before me have pointed out, using Pocahontas as a sex symbol is incredibly hurtful considering the high rates of sexual harassment, sexual assualt, abuse, murder, and rape of  Indigenous women, which is made worse by the toleration of fetishization of Indigenous women and other women of colour.

     Though these are only a couple examples of First Nations’ women being sexualized, there are plenty more. It doesn’t stop at Halloween costumes. It doesn’t stop at inaccurate and offensive portrayals of Native women. 

     This issue persists today, and will continue to do so if we don’t question the media and overall world around us. One step at a time, we can all learn about the issues that persist for any woman of colour, and make a safer world for our women. But when will that be? 

     We need to educate ourselves and others as much as we can to stop this harmful treatment. As a young Indigenous woman myself, this is an issue that is very important to me. 

     Our women give life and we continue the existence of our people. 

     We are strong, we are resilient, we are courageous, we are intelligent. 

     We don’t exist to feed your fantasies.

References 

“Pocahottie” costume 

Woman’s Sexy Pocahottie Costume. (n.d.). Costume SuperCenter. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/womans-sexy-pocahottie-costume?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6uT4BRD5ARIsADwJQ1-gxZ4y7FZjab3bjFJC7AVxQbg19OKyMSqb0FkPBzmxCDlizZQ2KioaAhC2EALw_wcB&sku=DG5877-S&code=googlepla&CAWELAID=1564057768&ef_id=Wzb9WgAABXA0YgvJ:20200724030812:s

Women’s Costumes with the words “Sexy” and “Seductress” in them.

              Womens Sexy Native American Seductress Costume. (n.d.). Costume SuperCenter. Retrieved July 23, 2020, from https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/womens-sexy-native-american-seductress-costume?gclid=CjwKCAjwx9_4BRAHEiwApAt0zvA_XVzNynQGhOaS4BqmIA7Y5LuddrQCnNvkocJG63YvifSu1zawkhoC--UQAvD_BwE&sku=RM10102-M&code=googlepla&CAWELAID=530008800000435275&ef_id=Wzb9WgAABXA0YgvJ:20200724031206:s

     Differences between “Native American” costumes for men and women 

As/Is. (2015, October 18). Native Americans Try On “Indian” Halloween Costumes [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frX69E9pkf8

 The “Indian Princess” stereotype 

            Bitch HQ. (2017, September 19). Native American Women Are More Than Princesses And Squaws. Bitchmedia. https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/whats-problem-thinking-indian-women-princesses-or-squaws

Pocahontas being used as a sex symbol in pop culture

Beck, A. (2017, November 20). Pocahontas Is Not A Sex Symbol. Bitchmedia. https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/nicki-minaj-pocahontas-is-not-a-sex-symbol