The Significance of Pocahontas as a Female Representative of Native Americans

During the 15th and 16th century Native women, Africa women, and European men engaed in multicontecxtual forms of relations. Their exchange would become a critical milestone in American history. European women did not begin to appear until the late 16th century resulting in much turbulence for women of color. They began to distinguish gender relation of Spanish America from those of British America. The integration of African women in the slave trade meant being categorized with barbaric animals. Legitamte marriages across cultural, racial, and religious barriers were frowned upon. Although Native Women and European men faced backlash from society; in Spanish America, cross-cultural relationships transpired.

In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the name America was coined by the Europeans upon their discovery. The indigenous people had many names for themselves that translated to “Men” or “the people” but often times they were referred to as “American” or “American Indians” by the Europeans. American history is the diverse nexus of tension between different cultures, including Native American, European and African women. Disease, trade, and conquest were the impact of the first initial 16th century contact between Europeans and Native Americans. Wide disruption was triggered by the advent of transatlantic slavery resulting in political, cultural, religious upheaval. In contrast to the Native people, African women were much regarded as beastly savages. The initial encounter with African women dealt much with their sexuality and womanhood. One Englishman first referred to an African women’s breast as, “…very foule and long, hanging down like the udder of a goate”. They dipicetd them as an animal type and barbaric. This was an attempt to lighten their conscience from the grotesque acts of separating women from their children prior to trading them in chattel slavery.

Although women’s interaction with European men greatly differed, they also shared many commonalities in a variety of ways. Europe began to see powerful, educated women leaders presiding over the two major empires; Queen Isabella of Castile of Spain and Queen Elisabeth of England. Africa too had its fair share of politically powerful women leaders. In present day Northern Nigeria, Queen Amina, an infamous warrior, ruled the Hausa Zazzau people. Her policy to perpetuate her reign alternated between allying with Portuguese merchants and offering shelter for the slave trade runaways. Ironically the story for the common person was not as such. For the women in Spanish America cross cultural relationships began to transpire providing an opposing reality than those of their women leaders of their countries.

The Spanish particularly focused on potential wealth gain, the abundant resources of the land, and the encomiendas. The conquistadores began intimate relationships with Native women and not until the late 16th century did European women migrate to Spanish America. Marriage from opposing culture, race, and religion were not tolerated. For the Spanish mutual but also coercive relationships began manifesting; many Native women sought much benefits from their relationship with the Europeans, although many relationships were heartfelt. Pocahontas is a very crucial figure in bridging those cultural gaps between the Englishman and her native people. She was given the capacity to act as a liaison between the English colonists and the indigenous people. The tale of Pocahontas is considered to be a traditional European romance. Pocahontas was highly praised for her role as an Indian counterpart to British America; Malinche, on the other hand, was widely known as a traitor.

Europeans never considered indigenous Americans to be there equals, the indigenous American was viewed by all definitions as of they’re inferior. European settlers pursued a great deal of gain through trade and resource extraction, indigenous people would be necessary for their future success. Spain, Europe’s most dominant empire in the Americas, sought to supplement itself with the natural resources of America. Indian women were of high importance within their societies. They played major roles in daily life and were seen as counterparts two native men. Pocahontas truly change that stigma between English men and native people. Pocahontas was viewed as a noblewoman and was highly respected among the English people. She truly broke cultural barriers among whole churl and gender differences.