Essay on Did Gender Make a Difference within Slavery

Did Gender Make a Difference within Slavery? Within slavery there were harsh conditions which Frederick Douglass tries to convey in his biography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Within this narrative he dezribes how men and women slaves were treated differently by their masters. Women were abused by their master, physically, sexually, and mentally, while men were mostly abused physically and mentally. Many slave women suffered regular beatings. Frederick Douglass mentions several different instances where female slaves who he knew where beaten regularly. One of Douglasss first overseers, Mr. Plummer, would beat Douglasss aunt on a daily basis. Mr. Plummer whipped Douglasss aunt so often he began a†¦show more content†¦Men and women alike were physically abused by their masters, deserving or not. Not only did women suffer harsh physical abuse, they were also sexually abused. Many of the masters had relations with their female servants. Frederick Douglasss own father was white, and it was rumored that his father was his original master. Douglass believed the sexual abuse that masters inflicted was done too obviously to administer to their own lusts, and make a gratification of their wicked desires profitable as well as pleasurable (21). He believed female slaves were not only workers for the masters but also outlets for sexual frustration. Women did not only endure sexual abuse by their masters, they also had the responsibility of bearing children to increase their masters wealth. These women were treated as animals, being bought for child bearing. Frederick Douglass exemplifies this attitude toward female slaves through the story of a slave named Caroline. Douglass stated that her master, Mr. Covey bought her, as he said, for a breeder (72). When she produced a set of twins, Mr. Covey seemed to be highly pleased .... nothing they could do for Caroline during her confinement was too good, or too hard to be done (73). Men did not have the misfortune to be used for this purpose. Many male slaves enjoyed the fact that these women were present. It gave them the chance toShow MoreRelatedThe Original Riot Grrrls By Elizabeth Cady Stanton1385 Words   |  6 Pagesfor women in the United States of America, but how did this constitutional change happen? Many females prior to this accomplishment faced struggles from external forces that denied their rights and capabilities. Feminism and equal rights were and still are prominent in American society. In order to provide women of the future what is rightfully theirs, women during the 1700s have taken control of their opinions and used their strong-will to make the necessary changes in American society. During theRead MoreThe Division Of The Nineteenth Century1387 Words   |  6 PagesThe Perpetuated Division in the Nineteenth Century The nineteenth century was an era that a lot of memorable history events had happened. 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