Discrimination has been something the world has struggled with ever since the creation of social classes. The speech, “Ain’t I a Woman” uses urgent and emotional tactics to spread awareness of the difficulties women face daily. In the Woman’s Rights Convention of 1851, Sojourners Truth, an abolitionist, and an activist for civil and women’s rights, effectively argues in favor of women’s rights using counterargument and repetition. For instance, Sojourners Truth uses repetition to persuade her audience to support women’s rights. Using repetition helps the audience understand the importance of her message, the importance of the challenges she’s faced. In this case, Sojourner Truth repeats, “And ain’t I a woman?” to showcase how she’s been continuously …show more content…
The purpose of using counterarguments is to help the audience understand that the speaker understands the other side of the argument, and can defend themselves and their stance on things. She explains, “Then they (men) talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? The member of the audience whispers, ‘intellect’. That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint and yours hold a quart, wouldn’t you mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?” In this statement, she’s addressing the idea that people think women are less than men. By discussing this, she can argue that women should be offered the same opportunities as men so that they can prove themselves as equal. She argues that women shouldn’t just be labeled as less than men. Moreover, she also argues, “Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as many rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! The man had nothing to do with Him.” In this, Sojourner Truth disproves what the man is stating by pointing out that it was a woman who birthed God and that it was Eve who turned the world upside down. With these explanations, she proves the point that it’s easy for women to be