Summary Of Ar 'N' T I A Woman? By Deborah Gray White

Deborah Gray White’s book, Ar’n’t I a Woman? is a depiction of female slaves in the southern plantations. Many texts and primary sources cover slavery through the eyes of men and rarely has the public been given a clear representation of the female slavery realm. White explores the burdens that these women encountered. These women lived through sexism and racism all while assuming their roles in their families and community. White begins her book by contrasting two portrayals of enslaved women: the Jezebel and the Mammy. The Jezebel mythology depicted an overtly sexual woman. These women were vulnerable to being sexually assaulted or lusted over by white males. Her sexual appetite and promiscuity made her the “counter image of [a] Victorian
Most women runaways either had children to care for, or were pregnant. It was during their fertile and pregnancy years that the majority of slave women received their best care and attention. Since pregnant female slaves were treated with care, they didn’t run away as much as their male counterparts. Enslaved pregnant women cared for their unborn and they did not want to harm them by running away. They recognized that being pregnant would limit their mobility and would increase their chances of being captured. Pregnant women did not work nearly as hard as men while they were pregnant. It is also important to note that some women purposely left their daughters naïve about sexuality and virginity. Some girls had no idea how babies were made or where they came from. This was a way for the mother to protect their daughter from sexual activity. White shared that these mothers often wished that their daughter would go through their young adult years without being sexually abused. This can be applicable to present day. No parent wants their children to have to go through sexual encounters at an age where they are unprepared mentally and