In six pages the author's account of slavery is examined in terms of the narrative itself and how it also possesses the characteristics suggested by Marilyn Frye and Patricia Hill Collins in their discussion of contemporary feminism. Eight sources are cited in the bibliography.
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her "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" (1861). In the narrative, Jacobs tells the story of her life as a slave girl and her feelings of humiliation, deprivation
and the lack of control over her life. Her story also reflects several characteristics of modern feminist thought as proposed by Marilyn Frye and Patricia Hill Collins. Collins tells of
how African American women have gained a unique knowledge which has empowered them through their experiences while Frye tells of how people who are oppressed experience double binds in which
they are faced with very few options in their lives and each option seems to be associated with pain and suffering. Harriet Jacobs exhibits both of these theories in her
story as her experience as a slave and the turmoil and choices she made empowered her to document her story and help other blacks after she escaped from slavery. Jacobs
also experienced the double bind experience as she had to choose between staying in slavery and being a victim of the doctor or leaving slavery and her family.
Born into slavery in North Carolina in 1813, Jacobs is one of many slaves in her home some of whom are her family members such
as her Gran, her brother and several aunt and uncles (Perez-Stable 24). When the Old Mistress in the house dies, Jacobs comes under the control of Dr. Norcom who becomes
obsessed with Jacobs as she begins to mature. Rather than end up under the control of Dr. Norcom, Harriet becomes the mistress of a white man, Samuel Sawyer, for protection
(Perez-Stable 24). Harriet knows she is wrong in being Sawyers mistress but he is kind, respectful and tender and most importantly, he does