Fred HeathEng 48A
10/15/09
Harriet Jacobs
1813-1897
1813-1897
"Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women. Superadded to the burden common to all, they have wrongs, and sufferings, and mortification peculiarly to their own." (Norton pg 1820)
In this quote, saddened by the news of her second child being a girl, Harriet Jacobs goes on to explain that slavery carries uncommon burdens when inflicted upon a woman. Jacobs explains that although slavery is horrible for all, enslaved women carry the same burdens that men do on top of difficulties unique to their own sex. The way I think of it, an enslaved man that has lost his freedom, has nothing left to lose but his life, whereas an enslaved woman has quite a bit more to lose. Not only were women slaves subject to the inhumanity of slavery, they were subject to the unique degradation of sexual slavery. Worst of all however, was that the victims of rape had no choice but to bear the children of their rapists, furthering the cycle of slavery, and crushing any hope of attaining freedom.
"The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear." Norton
In this quote, Jacobs describes the life of a female black slave, specifically, the life she experienced as a house slave in North Carolina. What she seems to be saying, is that there is an inherent fear in being a female slave because all slave girls are potential victims of sexual harassment and rape. Jacobs, although never physically raped, had a very real fear of being abused, causing her to become involved with Mr. Sands, and eventually to escape to New York.
A woman that didn't even realize she was a slave until she was six years old, Harriet Jacobs was not brought up as a traditional field slave. A contrast to Frederick Douglass, Jacobs did not have to experience the same atrocities that Douglass was subject to. Instead, she lead a much softer lifestyle, and with it, came a different class of inhumanity. Although just as despicable, the abuses that Jacobs suffered were rarely physical, and were instead manifested verbally. Rather than being beaten and lashed, Jacobs was the victim of verbal abuse, threats, and sickening sexual harassment instilling a fearful submission and passive rebellion in her. By describing the more subtle vices of female slavery, Jacobs gives a unique perspective on the multi-faceted subject of slavery.
In this quote, saddened by the news of her second child being a girl, Harriet Jacobs goes on to explain that slavery carries uncommon burdens when inflicted upon a woman. Jacobs explains that although slavery is horrible for all, enslaved women carry the same burdens that men do on top of difficulties unique to their own sex. The way I think of it, an enslaved man that has lost his freedom, has nothing left to lose but his life, whereas an enslaved woman has quite a bit more to lose. Not only were women slaves subject to the inhumanity of slavery, they were subject to the unique degradation of sexual slavery. Worst of all however, was that the victims of rape had no choice but to bear the children of their rapists, furthering the cycle of slavery, and crushing any hope of attaining freedom.
"The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear." Norton
In this quote, Jacobs describes the life of a female black slave, specifically, the life she experienced as a house slave in North Carolina. What she seems to be saying, is that there is an inherent fear in being a female slave because all slave girls are potential victims of sexual harassment and rape. Jacobs, although never physically raped, had a very real fear of being abused, causing her to become involved with Mr. Sands, and eventually to escape to New York.
A woman that didn't even realize she was a slave until she was six years old, Harriet Jacobs was not brought up as a traditional field slave. A contrast to Frederick Douglass, Jacobs did not have to experience the same atrocities that Douglass was subject to. Instead, she lead a much softer lifestyle, and with it, came a different class of inhumanity. Although just as despicable, the abuses that Jacobs suffered were rarely physical, and were instead manifested verbally. Rather than being beaten and lashed, Jacobs was the victim of verbal abuse, threats, and sickening sexual harassment instilling a fearful submission and passive rebellion in her. By describing the more subtle vices of female slavery, Jacobs gives a unique perspective on the multi-faceted subject of slavery.
20 points. As the old saying goes, "you don't have to hit to hurt."
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