Gender and Race in Slave Narratives
Lianna Futterman
Dr. Morrone
AML- 2720 (Southern Writers)
September 28, 2013
Gender and Race in Slave Narratives Gender is a topic that has been discussed with regard to every artistic medium as well as social situation whether it be literature, television, cinema, theater, politics or the current job market. As much as the issues of gender has been discussed, the well of answers, explanations, and perspectives never dries but rather grows and lets us gain perspective on moments of the past. Throughout the history of the United States of America, and up until recently, men and women have held strictly defined places within society that came with limitations and expectations. Although slaves were considered property the same principles of gender role applied to them as well. Harriet Ann Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself are both well known examples of slave narratives as well as historic pieces of American literature. Jacobs and Douglass understood the roles of their gender within the society they were trying to escape from, as well as in the life they were running toward. Both used their gender, and the knowledge of its benefits and limitations to aid there escape and accomplish their goals. Through their writings we come to have a better understanding of who they were and how they ended up where they were. Limitations and social restrictions of gender can be seen much earlier in both Jacob’s and Douglass’ work than one would think. The first gender difference comes in the style of writing. Douglass’ formal autobiography is not something that would have been published had it been written by a woman, especially not a colored woman. Jacobs and the people who helped her get her work published understood this as well and therefore aided Jacobs in formatting her narrative in to something closer to the socially acceptable domestic
Dr. Morrone
AML- 2720 (Southern Writers)
September 28, 2013
Gender and Race in Slave Narratives Gender is a topic that has been discussed with regard to every artistic medium as well as social situation whether it be literature, television, cinema, theater, politics or the current job market. As much as the issues of gender has been discussed, the well of answers, explanations, and perspectives never dries but rather grows and lets us gain perspective on moments of the past. Throughout the history of the United States of America, and up until recently, men and women have held strictly defined places within society that came with limitations and expectations. Although slaves were considered property the same principles of gender role applied to them as well. Harriet Ann Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself are both well known examples of slave narratives as well as historic pieces of American literature. Jacobs and Douglass understood the roles of their gender within the society they were trying to escape from, as well as in the life they were running toward. Both used their gender, and the knowledge of its benefits and limitations to aid there escape and accomplish their goals. Through their writings we come to have a better understanding of who they were and how they ended up where they were. Limitations and social restrictions of gender can be seen much earlier in both Jacob’s and Douglass’ work than one would think. The first gender difference comes in the style of writing. Douglass’ formal autobiography is not something that would have been published had it been written by a woman, especially not a colored woman. Jacobs and the people who helped her get her work published understood this as well and therefore aided Jacobs in formatting her narrative in to something closer to the socially acceptable domestic