Domesticity & Work in Nineteenth-Century America

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This document in the form of a diary was written by Chestnut in her slave mistress days. She expresses her bitterness to people that call her names since she has mulatto children. She expresses her resentment towards people who discriminate her yet they also have mulatto children

At this time in the society, there is discrimination among the Negros against people with mulatto children. The mistresses' are still mistreated and considered as lesser beings in the society. The discrimination is so real making it hard for the Negro and mulatto women at the time

Harriet Jacobs

Trials of Girlhood

1813-1897

Documentary

Through Harriet Jacob's book, Trail of Girlhood, she explains her sexual violation by an old white man. Jacob was a slave in North Carolina. She was continuously harassed by the white man for since she was fifteen. With time she developed resentment for slavery and sexual oppression and plotted to escape. She stayed in hiding close to the Whiteman's house since she could not stand being away from her children. After seven years of hiding, she managed to run away with her daughter to the South. Many doubted her story author authorship and the story was proven by historians.

This document was written to illustrate the struggles that enslaved women went through in the hands of the white men. She reveals that even at a young age the girl child was abused sexually and forced to become a concubine.

In this time in the society, women were subjected to sexual harassment and had to do what was asked of them by the white men. No matter their age, they were made concubines and even had to bear children for their master. Women were considered greatly as sexual objects.

Works Cited

DuBois, Ellen C, and Lynn Dumenil. Through Women's Eyes: An American History with Documents. 2016.