Pre-Depth Reading Analysis: The Nature Of Female Enslavement

In Depth Reading Analysis: The Nature of Female Enslavement According to the definition in Webster’s dictionary, slavery is defined as the submission of a person to a dominating influence. Though true, this statement does not come close to portraying the inhumane treatment African Americans were subjected to during this time period, especially as a woman. There were many gender specific differences during the enslavement period and women suffered social inferiority due to gender and race. These two traits automatically imposed a sense of ignorance and weakness to the stereotype of slave women. Being an enslaved black woman meant that your life revolved around what made your master happy. The fact was black women couldn’t worry about aspects
of their life; they had to deal with aspects of being a slave and their relationship with a white man. Often times, sexual duties and childbearing were of primary importance to plantation owners and white men were inexplicably drawn to the mysterious charms of African womanhood. This is important to African American history because it is necessary to understand this dynamic when it comes to studying African American history and their culture. The topic of female enslavement is one that must be read with a careful eye. It is also the topic of Deborah Gray White’s novel “Ar’n’t I a Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South”. It wasn’t of common nature for people to expose or undercover the treatment of slaves in the South during this time, however White took the opportunity to. In this powerful novel, White argues multiple viewpoints in relation to female enslavement. To begin, she argues that white slave owners created of slave woman that is morally wrong. From activities like the slave trade, to exposing them in public, to whippings and beatings, these activities lack the respect a woman should be given, no matter the color of their skin. White also makes a point about the atmosphere in which female slaves worked. She argues that this atmosphere fostered the idea that they were lascivious. Because women had to work outside, often times in hot conditions, white men mistook the minimal clothing they wore as a sign of promiscuity. As White says: “Slave women were the only women in America who were sexually exploited with impunity, stripped and whipped with a lash, and worked like oxen” (White, 162). She truly believed that this type of female system emerged from the overall slavery institution. As she says in her novel, “Only slave women were so totally unprotected by men or by law. Only black women had their womanhood so totally denied” (White, 162).
To help with her arguments, White uses the historical example of the image of a Jezebel.
This name was given to female slaves who were the image of a sexual woman. She was the type of woman that had fiery sexual urges and would invite a man into her bed. As White quotes in her novel, a Jezebel was the “counter image of the Victorian lady” (White, 29). It was also said a female with this image could not control her own body and was “a person governed almost entirely by her libido” (White, 29). Because of this, black woman became the target for sexual activities by the white male. This became a convenient way for white male plantation owners to rationalize their unlawful affairs with female slaves. It was also justification for children that were a result of these relationships. These children who have a white father and black mother were often known as mullato children. As White said: “The rate of pregnancy and increase amongst blacks provided evidence for the Jezebel image” (White, 31). The Jezebel stereotype was just one-way in which African American women were subjected to during the enslavement
period.
Another historical example is the image of a Mammy. This image was created to reconcile for the image of a Jezebel. Completely opposite to a Jezebel, a Mammy was the aristocrat of plantation life. As quoted in the book White characterizes a Mammy as an “asexual woman, maternal, and deeply religious” (White, 46). They were typically well loved, and had a very kind, caring, and loving nature about them. A mammy would spend her day cleaning, cooking, doing dairy work, sewing, and taking care of the children. Childcare was an important job for a mammy and they were known for putting the master’s children above her own and always taking care of the master’s family. As White says a Mammy had a “love of her young white charges” (White, 47), and was basically a “surrogate mistress and mother” (White, 49). In simpler words, she was running the plantation. Mammy represented the ideal slave and woman, thereby portraying race and sex relations at their best, (White, 61). The Mammy stereotype was another way in which African American women were subjected to during the enslavement period.
The situation of taking advantage of female slaves can also be seen in the Hine readings. The chapter entitled “Life in the Cotton Kingdom” has a section about sexual exploitation. Hine argues that this type of behavior between the master and their slave disrupted enslaved families. Female slaves had to give up their families in order to please their master. Having a relationship with a slave meant that a master has power and authority. These cases in which masters, oversees, and even their sons abused slave women is considered statutory rape and caused great distress to slave women. Former slave Harriet Jacobs was quoted saying “I cannot tell how much I suffered in the presence of these wrongs, nor how I am still pained by the retrospect” (Hine, 51). Not only did this type of behavior affect slaves at that current point and time, but also affected them for their entire lives.
A historical reference mentioned in the chapter is the very famous cause of the relationship between president Thomas Jefferson and his slave house servant, Sally Hemings. It is said that Jefferson and Hemings had a long-term sexual relationship that produced four children. Hemings, who was a caretaker to one of Jefferson’s daughters, was only said to be fourteen at the start of the relationship, while Jefferson was 44 (Hine, 51). This relationship began as statutory rape, but because of Hemings slave status, she wasn’t able to resist his sexual desires. This became a common theme throughout plantation life, because younger woman were more fertile and could carry more children. As in many other readings, slave masters had their reasons for these relationships. They maintained black woman were “naturally promiscuous” and were “seduced by white men” (Hine, 51). However, one cannot forget that this is one of the most degrading ways in which slave women were treated.
Before reading about this topic, I had never learned this much in depth information about female enslavement.
I had also never heard of the stereotypes of a Jezebel or a Mammy. After reading the texts, I was surprised to see just how badly female slaves were treated. Personally, I don’t believe there is any justification for the amount of wrongdoings by whites to female slaves. In my opinion, these views are completely different from what I see as right and wrong. Growing up I was taught to see people as equal and that skin color doesn’t matter. I think both these authors have very valid points. Truth be told, the life of a slave woman was often overlooked, or even forgotten about. The view of slave culture shows the influences slaves had and challenges people to look beyond the images and stereotypes and rather consider the experiences of these women. It’s not just about the ideology surrounding their lives; it’s about much more. I think both authors are shedding light on a topic often foreseen by scholars and historians. By arguing their points, both women are able to place black women in society and give them a distinct place. I think both authors would be willing to agree that instead of being just another member on a plantation, these female slaves were also women too. As White said, “Slave women were everywhere, yet nowhere” (White,
22).

Works Cited
White, Deborah G. Ar 'n 't I a Woman?: Female Slaves in the Plantation South. New York: Norton, 1985. Print.
Agyepong, Tera. African American History. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2014. Print