Treated Bride Quote by Catherine Anderson
““You ever seen what they do to a captive white woman? If you ask me, them Injuns got exactly what was coming to ’em.” Mr. Steinbach lifted a quizzical brow. “You ever see how some white men treat a squaw?” “It ain’t our doin’ that Injuns sell off their women to no-accounts.” “ Marry them off,” Steinbach corrected. “Indians don’t sell their women, Mr. Masters. They accept a bride price, which is entirely different. The gifts are taken in good faith, and the woman is, according to their beliefs, taken as an honored wife. They expect her to be treated as such.” “Bride price!” Henry snorted. “Same thing as sellin’. Heathen animals, ever last one of ’em.” Steinbach smiled. “Perhaps. But then they would say the same of us and the dowry a woman brings into marriage. The way they see it, we pay to get rid of our daughters, which is just as heathenish and doesn’t say much for our women.””
About This Quote
The dialogue reveals how cultural practices like bride price and dowry are framed as exploitation by outsiders, while each side sees the other’s customs as morally equivalent, highlighting mutual misunderstanding and ethnocentrism.
In simple terms: Cultural exchange reveals double standards.
Key Takeaway
Ethnocentrism blinds moral judgment.
Themes
cultural relativism
gender dynamics
colonial attitudes
miscommunication
economic exchange
Mood
critical
reflective
skeptical
Type
dialogue
historical anecdote
When to use this quote
- cross‑cultural negotiations
- colonial encounters
- marriage arrangements
- anthropological debates
- missionary critiques
Key Concepts
bride price
dowry
cultural misunderstanding
gender exploitation
Practical Applications
- educational curricula on cultural relativism
- policy guidelines for intercultural marriage law
Questions to Reflect On
- How does labeling another culture’s customs as “heathen” affect mutual respect?
- What mechanisms can bridge understanding without erasing distinct traditions?
A Different Perspective
Both practices involve transactional elements that can perpetuate gender inequality, regardless of cultural framing.
