sexually abused. Many of the mastershad relations with their female servants. FrederickDouglass's own father was white, and it was rumoredthat his father was his original master. Douglassbelieved the sexual abuse that masters inflicted was"done too obviously to administer to their own lusts,and make a gratification of their wicked desiresprofitable as well as pleasurable" (21). He believedfemale slaves were not only workers for the mastersbut also outlets for sexual frustration. Women didnot only endure sexual abuse by their masters, theyalso had the responsibility of bearing children toincrease their masters' wealth. These women weretreated as animals, being bought for child bearing. Frederick Douglass exemplifies this attitude towardfemale slaves through the story of a slave namedCaroline. Douglass stated that her master, Mr. Covey"bought her, as he said, for a breeder" (72). Whenshe produced a set of twins, "Mr. Covey seemed to behighly pleased .... nothing they could do forCaroline during her confinement was too good, or toohard to be done" (73). Men did not have themisfortune to be used for this purpose. Many maleslaves enjoyed the fact that these women werepresent. It gave them the chance to relieve theirsexual frustration. Women slaves received this abusenot only from their masters but also from theirfellow slaves.Emotional pain was inflicted upon women slavesthrough the separation of them from their children. After only two months the children were sent to anelderly slave, who could no longer work, to be takencare of. Then the mother was sent to another farm towork. Douglass talked about his experiences with hismother. He told of how she walked seven miles, froma neighboring farm, just to sit next to him at nightbefore he fell asleep. He also mentioned thedetachment which he felt after his mothers death. Hestates that,"I was not allowed to be present during herillness, at her death, or burial. She wasgone long b...
