Why did Zitkala hide herself?a)to save herselfb)to save herself from ...
Zitkala-Sa hid herself because she had got to know that the authorities wanted to cut her long hair. In her community hair of mourners, prisoners of war and cowards were cut and therefore she made a vain attempt to prevent her hair from being shingled by hiding herself.
Why did Zitkala hide herself?a)to save herselfb)to save herself from ...
Introduction:
Zitkala, a Native American girl, hid herself in order to prevent people from cutting her hair. This act was significant because cutting her hair symbolized the erasure of her Native American identity and culture.
Reasons for hiding herself:
1. Preservation of identity: Zitkala understood the importance of her hair in maintaining her Native American identity. For Native Americans, hair holds great cultural and spiritual significance. It is believed to be a connection to one's ancestors and a reflection of one's spiritual growth. By hiding herself, Zitkala aimed to protect her hair and, consequently, her cultural heritage.
2. Resistance against assimilation: During that time, Native American children were often forcibly taken from their families and sent to boarding schools where they were subjected to assimilation efforts. One of these efforts was the forced cutting of their hair. The cutting of hair was seen as a means to strip Native American children of their cultural identity and force them to conform to Euro-American norms. By hiding herself, Zitkala was resisting this assimilation and asserting her autonomy.
3. Symbolic resistance: The act of cutting hair was not only a physical violation but also a symbolic one. It represented the erasure of Native American culture and the imposition of Western ideals. By hiding herself, Zitkala was symbolically resisting the dominant culture's attempt to erase her identity and assert her own agency.
4. Emotional protection: Zitkala's decision to hide herself can also be seen as a means to protect herself emotionally. The act of cutting her hair would have been traumatic and dehumanizing. By avoiding this experience, she sought to shield herself from the pain and humiliation associated with the forced assimilation practices.
Conclusion:
Zitkala's decision to hide herself was driven by her desire to protect her Native American identity, resist assimilation efforts, symbolically assert her agency, and shield herself from emotional harm. By preserving her hair, she was preserving a connection to her heritage, culture, and spirituality.