Understanding the Abuse of Enslaved Women: A Historical Analysis

School

Kenyatta University**We aren't endorsed by this school

Course

HISTORY 105

Subject

Anthropology

Date

Dec 11, 2024

Pages

Uploaded by GrandRat4393

Question #1: How did slaveowners use events in slave women's lives to justify their abuse?A. African conditions: What were Africans' marriage practices? How did they dance? How did the women dress?White people used how Africans married, danced and dressed to oppress them. They claimed that enslaved women were sexual and different from the middle-class White women who were completely sexless. As such, due to their sexual nature, enslaved women’s primary purpose was to bear children. This stereotype was known as the ‘Jezebel’.B. Primary purpose: How could female slaves' ability to bear children benefit the slaveowner? ,....",," ,„,",Women slaves were most wanted for their ability to reproduce. Slaveowners gained from the children that were sired to the black women since such children would still be considered slaves, giving them more human labor. The master would force the female slave into having relations with another man who was also a slave to increase their slave populations.C. Working conditions: How were women made more vulnerable to sexual assault in the field and in the house?Women were exposed to high risk of sexual assault because the slave owners considered their main purpose to be reproducing. As such, they were at a higher risk of rape in order to reproduce more slavesfor their masters. The slave masters even threatened them that if they do not reproduce they would sell them.Question #2A:Slave concubine: How were the following elements in their lives affected?1. Their relationship with the master's wifeConcubine relationships created jealousy and fury in the master’s wife because she would feel jealous ofthe concubine and turn her hatred to the concubine instead of the master. Through concubine relations,the master’s wife would feel jealousy and rage and may express her frustration to the female slave but not on the man. The mistress was an authority figure who disciplined the concubine physically or in other way for some perceived slights the mistress felt that the concubine had made against her. For instance, the enslaved girl, Jacobs says that “She felt that her marriage vows were desecrated, her dignity insulted, but she had no compassion for the poor victim of her husband's perfidy.”2. Their relationship with their own husbandSlave concubines rarely had their own husband. Most of the Africans were enslaved by the white slave masters and treated as their property. They had to remain bound in the fields to produce offspring that would also provide for the slave labor force. 3. Their relationship with the other enslavedSometimes, concubines were resented by other enslaved individuals who saw them as receiving preferential treatment. For instance, they would be given a very expensive dress to put on which would put them on top. However, the concubines would not feel good about this because they would be made

to take their tops off for “social scientists” to take pictures of them which made them feel dishonored like everyone else. 4. Their relationship with any children which might resultSlave concubines have little capacity to protect their children from being sold to other masters or experience the same abuse that she experienced as a slave.Question #2B:Slave mammy (they cared for the master's children): How were the following elements in their lives affected?1.Their relationship with the master's wifeThe mammy who was expected to look after the master kids sometimes had a better relationship with the mistress because she was a caregiver.2.Their relationship with their own husbandThe relationship of the slave mammy with her own husband was of little importance. Taking care of the master’s children was her main priority. They have no time to do anything other than to cater for the needs of their master’s children.3.Their relationship with the other enslavedThe stereotypical slave mammy was always obedient and devoted to her white masters or mistresses. She does not interact with other black slaves. She was the epitome of the compliant slave and the positive aspects of slavery. Their relationship with their own childrenThe slave mammy’s motherhood was limited to the white family that she was serving. She prioritized taking care of white children over her own. Question #3: Regarding "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl":A. How did the master treat her?The master sexually harassed her consistently and tried to force her into submission using force and threats. He took advantage of his position of authority and her weakness, which is the very essence of slavery. She says, "He told me I was his property; that I must be subject to his will in all things."B. How did the mistress treat her? • (Please use a quote and your analysis to answer each question.) • The good news: She got away!!The mistress was a jealous woman, and she inflicted her anger on the enslaved girl instead of her husband. Despite the fact that the enslaved girl begged for compassion, the mistress had no capability to provide for it. She says, "She pitied herself as a martyr; but she was incapable of feeling for the condition of shame and misery in which her unfortunate, helpless slave was placed."

Question #4: Please come up with four reasons why you believe more men than women escaped. I will go over the answers next week. (So full credit if this is on time of course.)First, men worked outside so they were out of their maters’ view. Second, women used to work in the house which made them within sight of their masters. Third, women with children found it hard to escape and often would choose not to. Lastly, men were sold away from their wives and children which would motivate them to escape back to their original plantation.