Ain't I A Woman?

Isabella Corredor

Professor Richardson

PHI/WGS 297

Blog Post #1

Sojourner Truth gave her speech "Ain't I A Woman" at a women's rights convention. Truth's main claim is that she is advocating for equal rights for men and women everywhere, specifically women of color. Truth was born a slave in 1797. Her slave roots are evident when she uses slang and improper language and sentence structure. This is significant because Truth's main audience she is trying to address are black woman and her use of language helps African Americans connect with her more because they share the common bond of slavery. Truth is arguing that yes women as a group are oppressed, but at the time when people say "women" they are only thinking of upper class white woman. So when she cries out the phrase "Ain't I A Woman", she is saying what about woman of color? Do they not exist according to men and other woman? Black woman matter and deserve equality just as much as white woman, yet people aren't fighting for them. I agree with Truth's argument because I feel there are undeniable differences between woman of color and white woman and being of color shouldn't make a difference in whether you deserve equality or not. Woman of color are enslaved and working in the fields all day, doing just as much work as any man, and yet they are regarded as being so inferior in comparison. Whereas white woman were typically housewives at the time and are still seen as being above woman of color, which to me doesn't make any sense.

Some people would object to Truth's view because they would say that all women are oppressed, and that black women are nothing special; There are common factors that all women experience. The problem with this argument is that the category of "women" is too dispersed. There are women of all different races, class, and sexual orientation that even if there is a "common factor" among all women, these important differences affect how women experience oppression. As Truth said "I have borne thirteen children, and seen more all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?" (Page 1). This is a perfect example of an experience that no white woman at this time is experiencing; It is completely unique to black women therefore there is a vast difference between how white women are treated and how women of color are treated.