The Life of a Slave GirlThe Life of a Slave GirlA Look at the Fallen Women in A Look at the Fallen Women in

SlaverySlavery

Written by:Written by: Harriet Jacobs Harriet Jacobs

Presented by:Presented by: Michael Nora, Jeff Michael Nora, Jeff Landgren, and Michael Flanigan Landgren, and Michael Flanigan

IntroductionIntroduction

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

ContentsContents

QualificationsQualifications Dangerous?Dangerous? Opinion of a fallen womenOpinion of a fallen women Methods of controlMethods of control Status value to societyStatus value to society

DefinitionDefinition

A fallen woman is:A fallen woman is: One who has sexual relations before or One who has sexual relations before or

outside of marriage, which could produce outside of marriage, which could produce children.children.

One who works for her own living and is not One who works for her own living and is not supported by a man.supported by a man.

One who openly displays her sexuality One who openly displays her sexuality through showing her ankles, legs, cleavage, through showing her ankles, legs, cleavage, etc. and defies social standards.etc. and defies social standards.

Relation to the StoryRelation to the Story

The fallen woman in The fallen woman in Incidents in the Life of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girla Slave Girl is just like the fallen woman in is just like the fallen woman in American society as mulatto children were American society as mulatto children were seen as bastard children. seen as bastard children.

Linda Brent, the main slave woman, Linda Brent, the main slave woman, experiences the same treatment as most experiences the same treatment as most fallen women. Her lover leaves and the fallen women. Her lover leaves and the father of her child never claims her, forcing father of her child never claims her, forcing her to work hard and eventually run away her to work hard and eventually run away to secure freedom for her and her children.to secure freedom for her and her children.

What is a Mulatto?What is a Mulatto?

The offspring of a The offspring of a white man or white man or woman and a black woman and a black man or woman.man or woman.

They are They are characterized by a characterized by a lighter skin tone lighter skin tone than blacks, but than blacks, but darker than white darker than white people.people.

Why is this so Controversial?Why is this so Controversial? Society since early civilizations has always placed a Society since early civilizations has always placed a

higher social value on man than women. If women higher social value on man than women. If women were allowed to go outside this custom, it would were allowed to go outside this custom, it would threaten the standards of society. Therefore, men threaten the standards of society. Therefore, men placed restrictive expectations on women to maintain placed restrictive expectations on women to maintain this order.this order.

Slaves already had very restrictive rules that were Slaves already had very restrictive rules that were strictly enforced.strictly enforced.

Once slave women became fallen the mulatto baby Once slave women became fallen the mulatto baby was often concealed to protect the reputation of the was often concealed to protect the reputation of the father, especially if the master was the father.father, especially if the master was the father.

The child was often sent to another plantation to The child was often sent to another plantation to conceal the master’s late night deeds.conceal the master’s late night deeds.

OpinionsOpinions Women who fell into this negative category faced huge Women who fell into this negative category faced huge

obstacles and criticism. The husbands would divorce obstacles and criticism. The husbands would divorce the wife, who would then have to support herself. At the wife, who would then have to support herself. At the time, it was almost impossible for a woman to find the time, it was almost impossible for a woman to find a job that paid well. Since society limited the amount a job that paid well. Since society limited the amount of jobs, the woman would often turn to prostitution. of jobs, the woman would often turn to prostitution.

Linda experiences this neglect and obstacles. She tries Linda experiences this neglect and obstacles. She tries numerous times to contact the father of her children, numerous times to contact the father of her children, but he simply disregards her even when he runs for but he simply disregards her even when he runs for political office. political office.

Her master thinks less of her, as he had seen her as a Her master thinks less of her, as he had seen her as a respectable slave who obeyed and served his family respectable slave who obeyed and served his family well. He still agrees to protect her under many well. He still agrees to protect her under many restrictions. She must stay tied to him for protection restrictions. She must stay tied to him for protection and help.and help.

Master’s FeelingsMaster’s Feelings

If the master was the father:If the master was the father: The master would give the child special The master would give the child special

treatment and usually sent the child off treatment and usually sent the child off to another plantation.to another plantation.

If the master wasn’t the father:If the master wasn’t the father: The master would treat the child worse The master would treat the child worse

out of resentment for not being the out of resentment for not being the father if the child was a mulatto.father if the child was a mulatto.

Contrary to Popular BeliefContrary to Popular Belief Linda’s master decides to take care of her Linda’s master decides to take care of her

and her child as if they were his own.and her child as if they were his own. He asks that she obey him and do as she He asks that she obey him and do as she

is told and he promises to keep her and is told and he promises to keep her and her child, and eventually children, from her child, and eventually children, from the harsh effects of slavery.the harsh effects of slavery.

Even though she has it great, she stills Even though she has it great, she stills decides to run away and leaves her decides to run away and leaves her children behind.children behind.

They still are taken care of, after a short They still are taken care of, after a short extent in jail. extent in jail.

He still wishes she would come back and He still wishes she would come back and says he has forgiven her.says he has forgiven her.

Slavery is Crazy!Slavery is Crazy!

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

- - Linda, Harriet Jacobs Linda, Harriet Jacobs

pg.115pg.115

Methods of ControlMethods of Control

Slaves were controlled through:Slaves were controlled through: Structured work schedulesStructured work schedules Beating and separation of familiesBeating and separation of families FearFear

Women were controlled through:Women were controlled through: Lack of political participation: voting, Lack of political participation: voting,

running for office, etc.running for office, etc. Personal freedoms were restricted and Personal freedoms were restricted and

controlled.controlled.

Value of Fallen WomenValue of Fallen Women

The value of fallen women was very The value of fallen women was very low only to serve as a sexual outlet low only to serve as a sexual outlet for some men.for some men.

For slaves who were fallen their For slaves who were fallen their value was even less as they were value was even less as they were considered soiled property.considered soiled property.

Dangerous?Dangerous?

Fallen slave women were only Fallen slave women were only dangerous if they were to reveal the dangerous if they were to reveal the master’s secret.master’s secret.

They were more controlled and could be They were more controlled and could be sent away if they were a threat.sent away if they were a threat.

Fallen Women

Jeff Landgren

Background on Slavery

“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 repeatedabuses 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?Any Questions?

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASwhippihttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASwhipping.jpgng.jpg

http://www.historywiz.com/images/africa/whippinhttp://www.historywiz.com/images/africa/whipping.gifg.gif

Photo courtesy of Noah AllenPhoto courtesy of Noah Allen Jacobs, Harriet. Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Incidents in the Life of a Slave

GirlGirl. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000.. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000.

The EndThe End