This paper takes a look at the
experiences of black slaves in the United States. It examines two personal stories - one of
a man and one of a woman and compares the
experiences from a gender-based perspective. The stories told are those of Frederick Douglass in his work "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" and Harriet Jacobs in her account of slavery entitled "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl". From the paper: Slavery in America during the 18th and 19th centuries is universally thought of as a deplorable institution based on degradation, hate, and injustice. The horrors visited upon the slaves by their fellow man (masters) were unquestionably appalling. Keeping this in mind one might wonder, was the
Experience the same for male slaves as it was for females? Both sexes were subject to the same dreadful conditions and revulsions assigned to slavery but the experience was definitely different for men vs. women. " "