Fear What is Different

Ignorance of cultural differences led to a growing fear of living on the frontier.  Living in the midst of other races and cultures was probably one of the greatest fears the frontier women faced.  Stereotypes and stories had come west with them and made it rare that a white woman could reach across the barriers and establish contact with women of different races.

Later in this blog we will delve deeper into the relationship that developed between white and Native American women despite those fears, but for now women coming to the frontier  brought with them all the warnings of living "amongst the Indians".

One pioneer woman wrote in her journal: "I wondered what had possessed my husband anyway that he should have thought of bringing us away through this God-forsaken country.  I feared we were all to be scalped or taken prisoners before morning."

It is to the frontier woman's credit and determination that with time many of them broke through these barriers which existed, not just for the Indian, but also for the Mormon.  People then, like now, seem to fear that which they do not know or understand...

Next time...Housework Takes on a New Meaning

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