Page 220 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

-- Chapter Six --
FRONTIER PLACE: COLONIALISM TRIUMPHANT

White women did not apply their ability to change their views to all
racial, ethnic, and religious "others" they encountered on the fr ontier.
Although some women displayed empathy toward American Indians
under the most trying circumstances, they did not show the same
humaneness to such groups as Mexicans, Asians, African Americans,
white members of the Church of Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ,
known as Mormons, or natives along the Panama Route to California.
Although many peoples of color lived along westward routes and in
western settlements, white women lacked or avoided the opportunity
f o r contact with representatives of these groups. I Also, women's self­
images did not undergo any changes that affected their f e elings about
these peoples. Moreover, unlike American Indians, these parties were
not as numerous, visible, or pressing in their demands on emigrants
and settlers.
White women, therefore, were able to extend their sympathies in
a selective manner. Even though they were compassionate toward
American Indians, they continued to deprecate most "others." W o men
had not undergone a sea change. Although their colonialism had mod­
erated somewhat, it still had a firm hold on their minds.

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