During the abolition movement, slaves were desperately attempting to escape slavery. Those who were fortunate enough to obtain freedom in the North, wrote their stories to reveal the unspoken truths and aid in the emancipation of other slaves. Upon publishing, the authors used a pseudonym to ensure security of their identity. Although they all focused on a desire and pursuit to obtain freedom, slave experiences varied by gender. In the autobiographical novel, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs portrayed under the pseudonym Linda Brent, states “slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women” (64). She brings visibility to the experience of women slaves that have been overlooked in comparison to their male counterparts. Slave owners exerted overpowering control over the lives of slaves through physical abuse, however, woman slaves further experienced sexual abuse, childbearing and child care responsibilities.
The gender roles that have been emphasized in society, indicate that men must be strong, resilient, and superior to women. On the other hand, women are perceived as delicate, must attend to the male and are subjected to perform home based labor such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the children. Despite these set roles, slaves majority of the time, were treated the same. Linda is initially unaware of her slave status because her masters are kind and teach her how to read and write. However, she experiences a different life under the ownership of the Flints. Masters would give harsh punishments on women, as they did with men. Slaves were brought down to the level of animals and were given little regard to their misery. Linda describes the way Dr. Flint’s slaves portray themselves around him, “the cook never sent a dinner to his table without fear and trembling; for if there happened to be a dish not to his liking, he would either order her to be whipped, or compel her to eat every mouthful of it in his presence” (14). Linda also acknowledges female mistresses participation in cruel practices, “another neighbor was Mrs. Wade. At no hour of the day was there cessation of the lash on her premises. Her labors began with the dawn, and did not cease till long after nightfall…She lashed the slaves with the might of a man” (74). Such practices showed that discipline was not strictly limited to the male of the house.
Masters and mistresses used punishments to possess control over and dehumanize their slaves. Men were primarily punished by torture and death, but women slaves became victims of sexual abuse by their masters. Although women were viewed as valuable sources of labor like men, they were also perceived as sexual objects available for the masters needs. Having women as property encouraged slaveholders to take advantage of them as they desired. Linda describes her situation as a young slave girl found between her manipulative, harassing master and his insecure wife. She states that the beauty of a black women is a curse because it attracts their masters attention. Dr. Flint possessed desires over Linda and treated her better than other slaves, yet at the same time he tried to control every aspect of her life. Slave women did not have a choice and were expected to follow orders despite the situation and their own values. Although the mistresses were aware of their husbands malicious acts against the slaves, they did not show any compassion. On the contrary, they were jealous and despising toward the slave women, “the mistress, who ought to protect the helpless victim, has no other feelings towards her but those of jealousy and rage” (62). Slave women did not have a voice and were left unprotected.
Young slave women who suffered sexual abuse, were accompanied by emotional and mental distress. Linda was under the constant supervision of her master, Dr. Flint, who would make sexual advances at her. As victims of rape, they were predisposed to grow into young women with feelings of shame, fear and insecurity. Furthermore, these young slave women would continue to be sexually abused as they matured. Linda expresses the great pain and shame she felt as a victim, “I wanted to keep myself pure; and under the most adverse circumstances, I tried hard to preserve my self-respect; but I was struggling alone in the powerful grasp of the demon Slavery; and the monster proved too strong for me… I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments of nature. He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things” (54). Linda was forced to engage in sexual affairs with her married master and later speaks of the hopelessness she felt as a female slave under these circumstances, “no pen can give an adequate description of the all-pervading corruption produced by slavery, the slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear. The lash and the foul talk of her master and his sons are her teachers. When she is fourteen or fifteen, her owner, or his sons, or the overseer, or perhaps all of them, begin to bribe her with presents. If these fail to accomplish their purpose, she is whipped or starved into submission to their will. She may have religious principles inculcated by some pious mother or grandmother, or some good mistress; she may have a lover, whose good opinion and peace of mind are dear to her heart; or the profligate men who have power over her may be exceedingly odious to her. But resistance is hopeless” (p. 51). The desperate actions that Linda took to escape sexual relations with Dr. Flint demonstrate the psychological effects that sexual abuse and harassment had on slave women.
The abhorrent conditions slaves faced in addition to the sexual abuse women slaves suffered, drove slaves to act in ways which opposed their personal values. Slaves were stripped of their dignity and self-worth. Linda looked up to her grandmother who instilled values in her which made her adamantly firm about maintaining her purity. However, after many repeated acts of sexual harassment, she couldn’t withstand it any longer. Dr. Flint’s sexual relationship with Linda involved personal feelings that tormented the young girls life. He refused to allow her to marry off his plantation. Although he had possession over her as a slaveholder, he wanted to gain her affection. When Linda is asked if she loves the man she plans to marry, she responds with a yes which enrages her master. Dr. Flint physically abuses her and becomes even more possessive. Linda becomes emotionally and mentally drained as the time passes, she claims, “if slavery had been abolished, I, also, could have married that man of my choice; I could have had a home shielded by the laws; and I should have been spared the painful task of confessing what I am now about to relate; but all my prospects had been blighted by slavery” (79). Many women slaves fell into motherhood at an early age due to rape or in Linda’s case, survival.
Linda’s fight for freedom causes her to ignore her values of purity and do whatever it takes to survive. She uses psychological tactics to veer away from Dr. Flint’s harassing presence. She is aware that her master would be displeased if Linda had an interest in another man and evenmore, had a child with him. Therefore, she decides to engage in sexual relations with a caucasian family friend of the Flint’s and becomes pregnant. She knew that Dr. Flint would send her away because “he never allowed his offspring by slaves to remain long in sight of himself and his wife” (85). Nonetheless, Linda feels guilty about her decision and is constantly disappointed in herself because she was raised with values to respect herself. Linda’s life as a slave depicted the unfortunate experiences of many slave women who in addition to sexual harassment, were impacted in more ways than physical violation.
Slave mothers endured a greater anguish and despair as their children were taken from them. Hopes of escaping slavery and obtaining freedom for all was nearly impossible. Linda found herself torn between finding personal freedom and being a mother to her children. She cared for them, but would also have feelings of regret for the circumstances she put herself and her children in as a slave mother. In particular, Linda felt worrisome of her daughter, “when they told me my new-born babe was a girl, my heart was heavier than it had ever been before” (119). She knows the difficulties her daughter will have to face as a slave woman. The abuse and oppression Linda suffered from her master was brutal, but knowing the life that her children would have to endure if they were taken from her, was unbearable.
Slaves, both men and women endured terrible conditions placed upon by their slaveholders. They found themselves living in fear, being overworked and malnutritioned. Slaves were regarded as property of their masters and were expected to follow commands. Slave men struggled to achieve power and dignity, while women encountered sexual harassment and mental abuse. Linda demonstrates perseverance despite facing the demons of slavery. She fights to achieve freedom for herself and her children. Incidents of a slave girl demonstrates
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