Where Did The Term Indian Giver Come From?

Updated: June 09, 2023
The term "Indian giver" is a racist term used to describe Native Americans who were believed to give gifts with the expectation that they would be returned.
Detailed answer:

The term “Indian giver” is a derogatory term used to describe someone who gives a gift, but then demands it back. The origin of the term is widely debated, but it is believed to have arisen during trading with Native Americans in the 18th century. European settlers would give gifts to Native Americans, but when the Native Americans tried to trade the gifts back as part of their culture, the settlers refused. Today, the term Indian giver has come to be used to describe people who are perceived as being stingy or ungenerous when giving gifts. It has also been used to describe people who give gifts with the expectation of something in return. While some people still consider this term offensive, many others do not find it problematic or outdated at all. This term is not used as much as it once was, but you can still hear it occasionally used today by some adults and children in the United States and other parts of the world. This term is most often used today to describe men than women; however, there are some adults (both men and women) who use this term frequently toward children as well.

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