Topic > Evolution of Gender and Race Relations in the Colonial Era...

In Suspect Relations, the English pursued Indian women. Indian women exchanged goods for sex. Of course the English fell for this trick because all they wanted was sex. Indian women tricked men into having sex just so they could take their possessions and leave the man confused in the morning. “European men took a great interest in the physical appearance and sexual conduct of Indian women” (61). This explains how the English chose Indian women because their physical appearance was high and the English were unconsciously attracted to them, otherwise they would not have pursued Indian women. There were two types of relationships that Europeans seemed to know: long-term ones that led to marriage and short-term ones that people called prostitutes or "trade girls." Commercial girls used their bodies to get money from men. They would like some parts of their body to be “perfect” so they can use them for money. These commercial girls would have short term relationships, they would not be looking for marriage, just money. Some Indian women have decided not to be “trading girls” and to become part of a formalized marriage. They wanted these formalized marriages with European men so they knew something beneficial and wanted to establish connections with influential strangers. Cross-cultural sex in colonial North Carolina showed many challenges between the two different