The Need for a Humanistic Perspective

Historical and contemporary stereotypes of Native American Indian women have resulted in inaccurate and insensitive images. Mass media, movies, and printed materials continue to portray Native American lndian women as either princesses or savages. The purpose of this article is to provide a more humanistic perspective of this population. Native American Indian women are affected by nonhumanistic myths and stereotypes that are promulgated by the media, popular literature, and movies. The "Pocahontas paradox " represents a dilemma for Native American Indian women. This historical movement has persisted in the romanticiza-tion and vilification of Native American Indian women (Peregoy, 1999). In this movement from political symbolism (where the Indian women defended America [in the early 16OOs], to psychosexual symbolism (where she defends or dies for White lovers), we can see part of the Indian woman's dilemma. To be "good," she must defy her own people, exile herself from them, become Whte, and perhaps suffer death. (Green, 1976, p. 704) Although there are tremendous variations in Native American Indian tribe