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Pocahontas: The Genesis of my feminism

I must have been about five years old when I first watched Disney’s Pocahontas, to say it changed my life would be an understatement. My childhood, between the ages of five and nine, revolved around the film. I was a fanatic, shamelessly wearing ANYTHING Pocahontas embellished. From t-shirts, to bags, earrings and shoes, if it had Pocahontas on it I had to have it. My house also turned into a haven for memorabilia, as everything I ate or drank from also had to have her face on it. Not to mention the stiff competition my Barbie dolls faced when I finally got my hands on figurines. Pocahontas represented everything I wanted to be when I grew up, a courageous woman who was one hundred per cent her authentic self. Of course, back then I didn’t realise how much the movie had influenced my character. Recently, I was astonished to find that Pocahontas may have been the foundation to my interpretation of feminism. Pocahontas to me, was not just a children’s movie, with a princess who fell in love, Pocahontas was feminist who affected change within her community.

“Pocahontas” is a Walt Disney feature animation film adaptation of the life of a Native American princess and daughter of King Powhattan, who was betrothed to a brave warrior Kocoum. Pocahontas falls in love with a white settler Captain John Smith and puts a stop to an impending war between white English settlers and the Natives.  The film is based on true events and people, and was the first of its kind in the Disney animated series. Though admittedly stained with historical inaccuracies, there are some important lessons to be learnt.

Pocahontas had her priorities straight, she saw the bigger picture. Before Frozen, Pocahontas was the first princess who did not choose love or romance as her “happy ending”. When faced with the option of jetting off into the sunset with her love interest John Smith, she chose to stay behind with her people, whom she felt needed her.

Her culture and identity were important to her and she displays a sense of openness when she teaches John Smith her different perspective of the world in the iconic song “Colours of the wind”. What I loved about her was her independence and her freedom to be her authentic self.  

Tenacious could have been Pocahontas’ middle name, as she stopped at nothing to do what she felt to be right.  When the settlers first arrived on native lands, she was the first to go and observe them, manifesting an empowered sense of curiosity. A woman, wondering around with nothing but her canoe and pets, armed with nothing but her curiosity was refreshing.  Patriarchal societies often instil fear in women, and for a five year old, who was often taught to be afraid of anything out of the ordinary, I yearned for her courage.

Pocahontas was an unapologetic free spirit. In an iconic scene at the beginning of the movie, she’s on top off a waterfall, spending time alone with the wind and her pets.  When her best friend Nakoma alerts her of her father’s return, she jumps off the cliff, and takes a dive. Although a little cheesy, that scene was a testament of her strength and freedom.

The iconic song “just around the riverbend” is one of two songs that are true testaments of Pocahontas’ strength and individuality. “To be safe we lose out chance of never knowing”, “should I choose the smoothest course, steady as the beating drum”, in that scene there are two distinct paths, a smooth straightforward course and an uneven path.  The significance of this scene may have been more evident for the older audience, and I may not have understood it then, but it goes to show that to live in your truth will not always be an easy path.

A feature of this film I find extremely important is the sisterhood between Nakoma and Pocahontas.  Nakoma covers for Pocahontas when she sneaks off with John Smith and Kocoum comes looking for her. She also creates an opportunity for Pocahontas to see John Smith after he is imprisoned.  This shows the importance of friendship, especially with women.

Pocahontas taught me, to stand up for what I believe in and to do what I think to be truly right. Although King Powhatan had barred his people from going near the settlers, Pocahontas thought it right to get to know them. Even more significantly, she stood up to her father in front of her village when she saved John Smiths life by convincing her father that hatred and anger was not the solution to their misunderstandings.

How did any of this make me a feminist you may ask? As a young girl, this film taught me the importance of having a voice and standing up for what I believed in. it taught me that I didn’t have to fit into any box, or do what others thought I should do especially as a female. This was the genesis of my feminism. It taught me that I could make a difference and my sex shouldn’t have anything to do with it. Pocahontas was bad ass, and didn’t lose her femininity to prove it. There was strength in her femininity, in an age where strength was connoted to masculinity and often still is. Feminism is empowerment, however a woman feels empowered, Pocahontas was empowered in her own right and that was the biggest lesson I learnt through the film.

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#inspiration #positivity #selflove #grateful

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