StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Motherhood as Resistance - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The current paper states that Stephanie Li’s essay ‘Motherhood as Resistance’ specifically considers the articulation of motherhood in Harriet Jacob’s novel ‘Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl’. The article begins by recognizing that for slave’s motherhood was an almost non-existent concept…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER95.8% of users find it useful
Motherhood as Resistance
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Motherhood as Resistance"

Response Paper and Summary Stephanie Li’s essay ‘Motherhood as Resistance’ specifically considers the articulation of motherhood in Harriet Jacob’s novel ‘Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl’. In this context of recognition the article begins by recognizing that for slave’s motherhood was an almost non-existent concept as the child became the property of the slave master. This then problematizes the very notion of the female gender. The article considers parts of Jacob’s novel where the narrator affirms her motherhood; in this way the article claims that the novel eschews traditional perspectives that hold slave motherhood as non-existent.

The article argues that the novel specifically resists these perspectives, as it constructs a narrative identity that is almost entirely contingent on the motherhood. The article then goes on to consider specific details of the novel. In the section ‘Maternity: A Rhetoric of Resistance,’ Li considers that the novel establishes how human bondage and the family unit are diametrically opposed. In addition to positioning motherhood as the antithesis of slavery, Li’s essay advances a feminist critique.

In this way she argues that Jacobs represents, “represents a significant counterforce to a deeply patriarchal and male-dominated institution” (Li, p. 18). In addition to these feminist points, Li’s essay considers the notion of identity. In this way the notion of motherhood as identity unto itself is advanced. Still, Li additionally considers that this may be too limiting a concept. Later in the essay she considers more complex notions of identity in Jacob’s novel. She argues towards broader ranging concepts, such that motherhood is the choice towards freedom, or an entirely self-less position.

There are a number of prominent considerations regarding Stephanie Li’s essay. The centrality of the Jacob’s novel to motherhood is undeniable. In this way one considers the instances where Jacob’s directly embraces her children’s humanity, outside of the traditional master/slave context (Jacobs). In terms of the master/save narrative, there is the consideration of the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Mann. In this instance, Mann had beaten a slave; while he had been convicted of assault this decision was overturned by the North Carolina Supreme Court (North Carolina Supreme Court, p. 130). The court ruled that the slave was actually the property of Mann.

This decision is directly parallel to contentions in Li’s essay that slaves were removed from traditional considerations as mothers and instead viewed as property. Contrasting these narratives one recognizes the strong emphasis on motherly nursing in Mary Seacole’s, through her experiences in the Crimean War (Seacole). Still, perhaps more contrasting is Sojourner Truth’s story, wherein Truth escaped with her daughter to freedom (Truth, p. 245). In this way Truth affirms motherly connections, in the same way that Jacobs affirms these bonds of motherhood in her own narrative.

Still, there is also the consideration that Li’s emphasis on motherhood ignores broader ranging human concerns that are negated through the process of human bondage. Ultimately, however, Li’s essay highlights the importance of the way Jacob establishes motherhood; however, it must be recognized this is not an entirely isolated incident. ReferencesJacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Simon and Brown. 2012. Li, Stephanie. Motherhood as Resistance. Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers, Volume 23, Number.

1, 2006, pp. 14-29 (Article)North Carolina supreme court. State v.Mann. 1829Seacole, Mary. The Wonderful Adventure of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands. CreateSpace. 2012. Truth, Sojourner. Narrative of Sojourner Truth. Penguin Classics. 1998.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Response paper and summary to Stephanie Li essay”, n.d.)
Response paper and summary to Stephanie Li essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1604329-response-paper-and-summary-to-stephanie-li-essay
(Response Paper and Summary to Stephanie Li Essay)
Response Paper and Summary to Stephanie Li Essay. https://studentshare.org/literature/1604329-response-paper-and-summary-to-stephanie-li-essay.
“Response Paper and Summary to Stephanie Li Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1604329-response-paper-and-summary-to-stephanie-li-essay.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Motherhood as Resistance

Gender and Race Discrimination

In West, motherhood is an important place to fill in and requires great assistance from a women's part.... (May, 471-82 )“In Western countries, motherhood are part of a powerful nuclear family ideology that permeates all of society and is defined and delineated by strong social norms”....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Good Mothers, Bad Mothers

Among several other topics and subjects, motherhood is considered to be an interesting and important one to research upon.... Scholars have made an in-depth research on every aspect of motherhood, from religion to culture, from health to culture, from peace to sexuality, race, nationality, public environment , homo sexuality, heterosexuality; in short a wide range of topics regarding motherhood have been studied in order to develop a better understanding of the entire phenomena (Reilly 2010)....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Women and Development in Africa

hellip; The paper looks at how their struggles are linked to the politics of resistance. In this paper, by looking at many different examples of women's groups across many different African countries (for example, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, amongst others), I argue that the women of Africa who have been the victims of civil, or inter-ethnic, conflict, often respond to their situations by forming women's groups (be these apolitical, semi-political, or political). These women's groups are formed for many different reasons, be these purely social (through women's practical gendered interests, to arrange day care for children in communities directly affected by war, for example), economic (i....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Law Privileges Mothers and Unfairly Discriminates Against Fathers on Issue Relating to Children

Before plunging into the various arguments for and against the above statement, it is imperative to note that law deals in generalities and works by simplifying the insights of other disciplines into its own frame.... It has been accepted that the present court system in England and Wales for dealing with contact disputes have serious limitations. … Studies have proved that the most important factor involved in separation of parents is for them to prepare the children for the change that is due....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Same Sex Marriage in India and the United States

This paper analyses the childless married women's experience and resistance practices.... This paper analyses the childless married women's experience and resistance practices.... This paper is of particular importance as it brings to light the importance that is given to motherhood in India.... This paper is of particular importance as it brings to light the importance that is given to motherhood in India.... In India same sex marriages are a taboo and motherhood is essential to attain fulfillment....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Interwar Period

Throughout Kollontai's writing, she argues that women should be able to work in the factories without worrying about the burden of motherhood and traditional family roles (Laqua 470).... The interwar period was a sad and tragic period lasting only 21 years, the period was characterized by grinding unemployment and poverty for many in the 1930s....
2 Pages (500 words) Dissertation

Same-Sex Marriage: A Threat to Healthy Child Development

However, when a small portion of society acts against what is accepted as natural and social laws, it is inevitable that they will face difficulties and resistance from those who are around them.... Homosexual people are experiencing resistance and rejection from other people and their governments for the very reason that their sexual orientation goes against what is accepted as natural and thus indigestible by those who are around them.... It is a sad fact that the strongest reason why homosexuals face in being legally allowed to form families is resistance from the government....
8 Pages (2000 words) Report

The State of Political Islam through the Prism of Egyptian Brotherhood and Hezbollah

Tunisia and Egypt were the forerunners of the revolution and waves of resistance that have characterized the Arab world.... "The State of Political Islam through the Prism of Egyptian Brotherhood and Hezbollah" paper examines the political islam as the representative of the wave of change that has characterized Muslim states in North Africa and Middle East and alludes to events in other Muslim states....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us