A Look at the Fallen Women in Slavery The Life of a Slave Girl A Look at the Fallen Women in Slavery Written by: Harriet Jacobs Presented by: Michael Nora, Jeff Landgren, and Michael Flanigan

Introduction During slavery in America, the rights of slaves were non-existent and the rights of women were limited. A woman slave had to struggle just to survive and was given nothing but her weekly rations and if she was lucky she might actually have the favor of her master. Fallen women were dangerous and considered outcast.

Contents Qualifications Dangerous? Opinion of a fallen women Methods of control Status value to society

Definition A fallen woman is: One who has sexual relations before or outside of marriage, which could produce children. One who works for her own living and is not supported by a man. One who openly displays her sexuality through showing her ankles, legs, cleavage, etc. and defies social standards.

Relation to the Story The fallen woman in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is just like the fallen woman in American society as mulatto children were seen as bastard children. Linda Brent, the main slave woman, experiences the same treatment as most fallen women. Her lover leaves and the father of her child never claims her, forcing her to work hard and eventually run away to secure freedom for her and her children.

What is a Mulatto? The offspring of a white man or woman and a black man or woman. They are characterized by a lighter skin tone than blacks, but darker than white people.

Why is this so Controversial? Society since early civilizations has always placed a higher social value on man than women. If women were allowed to go outside this custom, it would threaten the standards of society. Therefore, men placed restrictive expectations on women to maintain this order. Slaves already had very restrictive rules that were strictly enforced. Once slave women became fallen the mulatto baby was often concealed to protect the reputation of the father, especially if the master was the father. The child was often sent to another plantation to conceal the master’s late night deeds.

Opinions Women who fell into this negative category faced huge obstacles and criticism. The husbands would divorce the wife, who would then have to support herself. At the time, it was almost impossible for a woman to find a job that paid well. Since society limited the amount of jobs, the woman would often turn to prostitution. Linda experiences this neglect and obstacles. She tries numerous times to contact the father of her children, but he simply disregards her even when he runs for political office. Her master thinks less of her, as he had seen her as a respectable slave who obeyed and served his family well. He still agrees to protect her under many restrictions. She must stay tied to him for protection and help.

Master’s Feelings If the master was the father: The master would give the child special treatment and usually sent the child off to another plantation. If the master wasn’t the father: The master would treat the child worse out of resentment for not being the father if the child was a mulatto.

Contrary to Popular Belief Linda’s master decides to take care of her and her child as if they were his own. He asks that she obey him and do as she is told and he promises to keep her and her child, and eventually children, from the harsh effects of slavery. Even though she has it great, she stills decides to run away and leaves her children behind. They still are taken care of, after a short extent in jail. He still wishes she would come back and says he has forgiven her.

Slavery is Crazy! “On the contrary, I had always been kindly treated, and tenderly cared for, until I came into the hands of Dr. Flint. I had never wished for freedom till then. But though my life in slavery was comparatively devoid of hardships, God pity the woman who is compelled to lead such a life!” - Linda, Harriet Jacobs pg.115

Methods of Control Slaves were controlled through: Structured work schedules Beating and separation of families Fear Women were controlled through: Lack of political participation: voting, running for office, etc. Personal freedoms were restricted and controlled.

Value of Fallen Women The value of fallen women was very low only to serve as a sexual outlet for some men. For slaves who were fallen their value was even less as they were considered soiled property.

Dangerous? Fallen slave women were only dangerous if they were to reveal the master’s secret. They were more controlled and could be sent away if they were a threat.

Fallen Women Jeff Landgren

Background on Slavery Fallen Women “This bread I used to bestow upon the hungry little urchins, who, in return, would give me that more valuable bread of knowledge.” Frederick Douglass Fallen Women “No man should hold unlimited power over his fellow-man. From the repeated abuses of this power, he becomes the most brutal of the human species; and the more he himself has been abused, the more eager he is to abuse others.” Harriet A. Jacobs

Amistad

Questions What is the perception of a fallen women to a white woman vs. a black woman who is free? What is the perception of a fallen women to a white man vs. a black man who is free? What is a white woman’s response in the case where the husband has sexual rights with a slave? If a black man is related to a fallen woman can he use this to his advantage or possibly black male.

Rosewood

Any Questions?

Bibliography http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASwhipping.jpg http://www.historywiz.com/images/africa/whipping.gif Photo courtesy of Noah Allen Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000.

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