Ar 'N' T I A Woman Analysis
White's purpose of writing is to provide a long overdue examination of female slavery, ending long held myths and exemplifying the distinctive struggles that slave women faced in their day to day survival. Deborah Gray White’s book, Ar’n’t I a Woman? categorizes black women in the context of the two dogmas they faced in the antebellum South—the Southern feminine model of the dependent, physically inert female, and the tougher imagery of tough labor and dehumanization that was experienced daily in the lives of slaves. According to White, the slave woman’s character is defined by white society intertwined perilously between these two images. In this sense, slave women found themselves doubly victimized: “For antebellum black women…sexism was
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White examines how slave children had approximately the same day to day routine even with the fact that the sex of the child was different. As the chapter progressed the reader was informed that once puberty began women are urged to find a mate. This tied directly back to the urge of women to reproduce as previous stated. The teenage responsibilities were composed of heaving weeds, and raking the yards. While these duties were being performed young ladies were heavily surrounded by other young mothers "which helped them develop a sense of what was expected of them in their future role of mother" (White, 95). Women in servitude usually had their first child late into teen hood. During this time if you were a barren woman you would be separated from your husband and sold without hesitation. You were no longer a “Prize possession” to the slave owners. The slave family was often arranged around a strong woman figure who was expected to produce effectively in the fields and then to cook and take care of her children. In slave family’s sexes were equal; however, the women seemed to have a bit more of the upper hand with regards to controlling the relationship. The women definitely took on more of the family responsibility while the men took on the manual labor head
White examines how slave children had approximately the same day to day routine even with the fact that the sex of the child was different. As the chapter progressed the reader was informed that once puberty began women are urged to find a mate. This tied directly back to the urge of women to reproduce as previous stated. The teenage responsibilities were composed of heaving weeds, and raking the yards. While these duties were being performed young ladies were heavily surrounded by other young mothers "which helped them develop a sense of what was expected of them in their future role of mother" (White, 95). Women in servitude usually had their first child late into teen hood. During this time if you were a barren woman you would be separated from your husband and sold without hesitation. You were no longer a “Prize possession” to the slave owners. The slave family was often arranged around a strong woman figure who was expected to produce effectively in the fields and then to cook and take care of her children. In slave family’s sexes were equal; however, the women seemed to have a bit more of the upper hand with regards to controlling the relationship. The women definitely took on more of the family responsibility while the men took on the manual labor head