Women and Slaves in the Minds of Men

Scarlet and Mammy.

We talked about this in class, and the consensus was that free "white women" were not the same as slaves of the time. In class I agreed, and I still do. In reading the question again today I realized that Fuller used the word "feeling" in her quote:

"There exists in the minds of men a tone of feeling toward women as toward slaves."

This could change the entire focus of the discussion if we had looked at it in that sense. We focused more on the treatment than the attitude. It is hard to argue that slaves dealt with much more oppression and much less legal representation. A few examples given in class were: women were taught to read; if abused or killed, women were avenged by the law and the townspeople, etc.

A few people felt that women were regarded as slaves because of the lack of general education, profession etc. Fathers married of their female offspring in a businesslike fashion. I can see their point, when I look at the quote specifically within its context. I still tend to think that free women were regarded differently than slaves. For the sake of conversation, here are two somewhat opposing examples from the text:

We know that Douglas' master's wife could read. She taught him to read. We also know that she had to obey her husband, and did so to the degree that she became more severe than he was. She didn't seem to have the right to her own thoughts or opinions.

Douglas mentioned the practice of dividing families, specifically separating infants from their mothers. In the case of free women, it would be considered cruel to do so.

 Sojourner Truth spoke at the Women's Convention, Akon Ohio in 1951. Her entire speech is really a must-read if you want to know what a former slave thought about women's roles in the 1850s. Below is a short but relevant snippet:

"That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?"

For the entire speech, click here.