Tansi Nîtôtemtik,
Photo retrieved from: https://www.bustle.com/articles/91394-6-historical-inaccuracies-in-disneys-pocahontas-but-that-doesnt-mean-you-stop-painting-with-all
Today’s post will address the objectification and sexualization of Indigenous women. This form of societal bias takes shape in several myths and stereotypes. In its darkest form, it is reflected through perpetual violence against Indigenous women and girls. We also see its prevalence in the dominant narrative that Indigenous women are “unfit mothers.” Finally, we see it through media representations of Indigenous women and girls, namely through cultural appropriations of historical Indigenous figures, such as Pocahontas.
In Canada and around the world, violence against Indigenous women is pervasive. A 2011 report commissioned by Statistics Canada estimated that Indigenous women are seven times more likely than non-Indigenous women to fall victim to a homicide. [1] The number of missing Indigenous women is also very high; a 2014 Royal Canadian Mounted Police report estimated that there were 164 missing Indigenous women as of 2013, representing 11.3% of the total number of missing women. [2] The probable cause for more than half of these reported incidents was identified as either “unknown” or “foul play.” [3] Further, the number of missing women is likely much higher than reported. [4]
What is the cause of this pervasive violence? A Native Women’s Association of Canada (“NWAC”) report states that “early colonial writings described Aboriginal women as “Indian princesses” … Resistance to colonization led to the invention of Aboriginal women as “squaws” — dirty, lewd and sexually deviant.” [5] This characterization of sexual “deviance” and “availability” removed responsibility, in the eyes of colonizers, for forcing sex and violence upon Indigenous women. [6]
The “sexual deviance” stereotype also fed into the myth of the Indigenous woman as an “unfit mother.” The “unfit mother” myth is based upon the Eurochristian and patriarchal social code: a nuclear family unit in which the woman assumed the role of housewife and was subservient to her husband. The legacy of this myth is seen through the continued apprehension of Indigenous children; while Indigenous children form approximately 7% of the general population, they represent nearly 50% of all foster care children in Canada. [7]
Finally, the sexualization of Indigenous women and girls is also seen through popular culture narratives, including appropriated and highly sexualized Indigenous-inspired Halloween costumes. Following a settlement agreement with several Indigenous women who filed an Ontario Human Rights Commission complaint, Ontario Spirit Halloween retailers have now removed the offensive and culturally-appropriated “Reservation Royalty,” Huron Honey,” Naughty Navajo,” and “Pocahottie” costumes from their stores. However, these costumes continue to be offered at other mainstream costume stores and Spirit Halloween locations outside of Ontario. [8] In effect, the “sexually deviant” narrative of Indigenous women prevails.
What can be done about these pervasive myths and stereotypes? As a society, we need to be conscious of the vulnerable position for Indigenous women that stems from colonization. We need to recognize the strength and resilience of their voices.
Until next time,
Team ReconciliAction YEG
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[1] Statistics Canada, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Women, by Vivian O’Donnell & Susan Wallace, Catalogue 89-503 X (Ottawa: Statistics Canada, July 2011) at 42.
[2] Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview (Ottawa: RCMP, 2014), online: <https://web.archive.org/web/20160520135745/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/mmaw-faapd-eng.pdf >.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Native Women’s Association of Canada, Fact Sheet: Root Causes of Violence Against Aboriginal Women and the Impact of Colonization, online: <https://www.nwac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Fact_Sheet_Root_Causes_of_Violence_Against_Aboriginal_Women.pdf >.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ashifa Kassam, “Ratio of indigenous children in Canada welfare system is ‘humanitarian crisis’”, The Guardian (4 November 2017), online: <https://www.nwac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Fact_Sheet_Root_Causes_of_Violence_Against_Aboriginal_Women.pdf >.
[8] Stacy Lee Kong, “Goodbye “Pocahottie” —It Looks Like Spirit Halloween Will Stop Selling These Racist Costumes”, Flare (14 March 2018), online: <ps://www.flare.com/fashion/spirit-halloween-pocahottie.>
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