"Racism against Native Americans, like all racism, is gendered. White women were said to need protection from rape by Indian men, who were portrayed as sexual animals. Native American women were extolled when they served white men (i.e., Pocahontas, Sacajawea) and were otherwise portrayed as exotic, shy, and reserved sexual creatures. The attempted annihilation of Native Americans in the United States happened. It was systematic, sanctioned by all levels of society and carried out by ordinary citizens as well as by the military and state militias."