The Cult of True Womanhood in Harriet Jacobs’ Narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

In a time where women were expected to abide all the rules that been put by men (the cult of true womanhood, a model was constructed by the white male patriarch), such model during the 19th century, it shaped and made women considerable. So, many women fought for their rights. Jacobs account challenges the cult of true womanhood qualities of purity, piety, domesticity, and submissiveness. Even though Incidents in the Life of a Slave girl is considered to be as an account of the brutalities and the atrocities that happened to slaves, especially women; however, the account reveals the opposite. It shows that such atrocities are in the favor of the slaves. These atrocities made the main character powerful and maintained her identity against all the odds. Also, because of the brutality that happened to her; it made her escape for her freedom. In this research paper, I will attempt to show how oppressing women lead them to agency and make them powerful by defying the patriarchal society they live in. Also, I will show how they challenge the cult of true womanhood, a term that was described by Barbara Welter in 1966 which consisted of four ideals, namely, piety, purity, submissiveness, and domesticity. According to Welter, “put them all together and they spelled mother, daughter, sister, wife—woman. Without them, no matter whether there was fame, achievement or wealth, all was ashes” (152). These ideals were not just objectives to aim for; however, they are elements of womanhood. Being a true woman was a serious responsibility, it was planted in young girls' minds since their upbringing. I other words, I will show that none of the women mentioned in the narrative, white or black, have met the standards of the true cult of womanhood and how Jacobs' memoir is used as a tool for her to express her voice and feelings.