Page 17 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

INTRODUCTION

women by remaining within their domestic sphere and maintaining pas­
sive demeanor. Thus, especially middle- and upper-class women of the
nineteenth century and those of the early twentieth century stepped
out on the trail with very similar injunctions in their heads.
In addition, anti-Indian prejudice increased throughout the era
rather than abating. Even though a pro-Indian reform movement
emerged after the Civil W a r, it was based largely in the East and drew
many f o rmer abolitionists to its ranks, f a ctors that limited its outreach
and potency . Moreover, as Indian resistance spiraled in the W e st, creative
authors of dime novels, ambitious journalists, and profit-hungry editors
happily brought to eager readers outrageous tales ofIndian "atrocities"
and " depredations." At the same time, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and
a host of imitators took touring Wild W e st shows to Americans in the
East, South, and Midwest, as well as to viewers in such countries as
England, France, and Italy. Even though Cody had hoped to present an
authentic portrayal of the W e st and of Native Americans, he soon f o und
himself ruled by the bottom line, which mandated giving viewers what
they wanted-fierce, savage, and rapacious Indians. Consequently, an
Anglo woman of the early twentieth century was no more sensible and
knowledgeable regarding American Indians than those of the early nine­
teenth century. A third f a ctor leading to the repetitive nature of Anglo
fr ontierswomen's reactions to Indians was the f r ontier setting in which
they interacted with Indians.These venues were usually isolated, in their
early stages relatively unpeopled by whites, and very fr ightening to
women who thought of themselves as weaklings devoid of courage.
Anglo women, who were accustomed to neighbors, laws, and the
absence of Indians, had to cope, often on their own, with people who
had reputations as murderers and takers of captives, especially of women
and children. Many white women did learn to manage and, in doing
so, adopted new ideas about themselves and about Indians. Because dam­
aging constructions of race, gender, and class were widespread and hardy
during this era, a similar procedure repeated itself over and over among
white women at many times and in many f r ontier zones.
Therefore, this study concludes that gender, race, and even social
class mattered. Although literate Anglo women went west with f a thers,
brothers, and husbands, and only occasionally left their sides, they had

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