Editing Loincloth (section)

=== Native American ===
[[File:Two Mohave braves, western Arizona - Timothy O'Sullivan - NARA.jpg|thumb|Two [[Mohave people|Mojave]] men in breechcloths (1871)]]

In most [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] tribes, men used to wear some form of breechcloth, often with [[leggings]].<ref name="native-languages" /><ref name="AICB">Minor, Marz & Minor, Nono (1977). [https://books.google.com/books?id=FRr0XCFnMtgC&pg=PA73 ''The American Indian Craft Book'']. Bison Books.  pp. 72–73. {{ISBN|0-8032-5891-7}}. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 2010-07-15.</ref><ref name="ABI:">Mayfield, Thomas Jefferson (1997). [https://archive.org/details/adoptedbyindians0000mayf/page/83 ''Adopted by Indians: A True Story'']. Heyday Books. p. 83. {{ISBN|0-930588-93-2}}. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 2010-07-15.</ref><ref name="rootsweb">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mosmd/indianmensclothing.htm Typical Indian Clothing (male)]. Retrieved on 2010-07-15.</ref> The style differed from tribe to tribe. In many tribes, the flaps hung down in front and back; in others, the breechcloth looped outside the belt and was tucked into the inside, for a more fitted look.<ref name="native-languages" /> Sometimes, the breechcloth was much shorter, and a decorated apron panel was attached in front and behind.<ref name="native-languages" />

A Native American woman or [[adolescence|teenage]] [[girl]] might also wear a fitted breechcloth underneath her skirt, but not as outerwear. However, in many tribes' young girls did wear breechcloths like the [[boy]]s until they became old enough for skirts and dresses.<ref name="native-languages" /> Among the [[Mohave people]] of the American Southwest, a breechcloth given to a young female symbolically recognizes her status as [[Two-spirit|''hwame'']].<ref>Conner, Sparks, and Sparks, eds. (1997) ''Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol, and Spirit: Covering Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Lore''</ref>