7-8: Race and Gender, Harriet Jacobs (1861), A ‘women’s sphere?' Flashcards
Harriet Jacobs timeline of key events (5 points)
- Taught to read and spell by mistress
- Faces sexual harrasment by Dr Flint
- Jacobs has children out of wedlock with Mr Sands
- Hides in attic for 7 years
- Escapes and helps others escape through underground railroad
Who was Jacobs appealing to in her narrative? How was she targeting them? Why is this an important group to target?
White middle-class women
She used “women’s sentimental writing” like Jane Austen (very emotive)
Helped gain sympathy and get the abolitionist movement going
How many slave narratives were written by women?
6 out of 135
What group did Jacob’s narrative go against? Why? Was it her fault?
Cult of True Womanhood
She wasn’t virtuous
No, it was her only option to stop Dr Flint’s advances ( COTW ideas are hard to be followed by enslaved people)
What was domestic life like for slaves? Did it reflect white experiences?
Separate spheres encouraged by authorities (domestic for women ofc)
Different from white experience, enslaved men didn’t have financial power over their families so lines blurred a bit by Historians
Importance of education for slaves (2 points)
Helped with resistance and empowerment
Helped legitimise the stories of slaves (they wrote their own stories so not faking it)
Name differences between Jacobs and Douglass’ narratives
Themes:
Jacobs themes = motherhood & virtue
Douglass themes = masculinity & independence
Perspective:
Jacobs focuses on her family and remaining virtuous
Douglass portrays women as weak, sex tools to empower himself
What was Sojourner Truth’s speech called? When was it? What did she say in it?
‘Ain’t I a woman’
1851
She is oppressed as a black person (not treated like white women) and she is oppressed as a women
What did Katherine McKittrick say about Jacobs’ story?
Jacobs’ story blends individual agency with black female oppression –> In the attic scene, she has to hide from abuse, but she still has agency to look through
Who said ‘Jacobs’ story blends individual agency with black female oppression’ in reference to the attic scene?
Katherine McKittrick
What did Harriet admit in a letter to Amy Post, her friend?
Harriet admits that she left out the worst parts of her story
Who did Harriet admit ‘leaving out the worst parts of her story’ to?
Amy Post
What does Heather Williams say about Jacobs and her writing?
Jacobs felt constrained to present herself as demure and gentle for white readers
Who said ‘Jacobs felt constrained to present herself as demure and gentle for white readers’
Heather Williams
