Male And Female Slavery Seen Through The Lives Of Frederick Douglass And Harriet Jacobs
             Female and male narratives of the enslaved African-Americans of the 19th century take different forms because of the nature of their experiences. Thus, Frederick Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave contrasts in its structure and interest from that of Harriet Jacobs' Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl. Both tales are strongly impacted by the gender of the authors as well as their intent in writing and audience. Douglass tells the story of a young boy/man, who escaped his life as a slave through action. Jacobs tells the story of herself as a girl/woman and mother trying to escape from bondage and sexual exploitation through hiding.
             However different the purpose of Jacobs' writing was from that of Douglass', there is no argument in the fact that both persons were slaves. As similar as their social standing was, the cruelties that fell upon each of them varied greatly due to their gender. Whatever little power Douglass possessed, his literacy was the vehicle that enabled him to achieve it. Conversely, Jacobs' femininity was the cause of a lot of her problems and the anchor that kept her in a life of slavery for as long as she was. As a mother, Jacobs was more complexly involved in the lives of slaves other than herself, whereas Douglass was able to take a more selfish approach towards his escape and emancipation. When the time came for Douglass to escape he was not leaving anyone behind.
             The masculinity that Douglass possessed was acquired through his literacy and intelligence. It gave him a confidence that he did not have when he was illiterate. His way of thinking and ambition to learn far exceeded that of most men, whether white or black. As "awkward" as he was when he was working with Mr. Covey, it was at this time that Douglass made his transition from...