This study guide covers resistance to sexual violence by enslaved women (including methods like physical resistance, use of plants, infanticide, escape, and hiding), gender in slave narratives (themes, genre impact, and gender norms in narratives by men and women), and the impact of women's narratives on political movements (abolitionist and feminist). It includes a deep dive into required sources like The History of Mary Prince and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, focusing on key details and excerpts. Finally, it provides exam preparation guidance with practice questions (multiple-choice, short answer, and free response) covering high-value topics, common question types, time management strategies, and common pitfalls.

#AP African American Studies: Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Hey there! Let's get you prepped for the AP exam with this supercharged study guide. We'll break down everything you need to know, focusing on what's most important and making sure it all sticks. Let's do this! 💪

#1. Resistance to Sexual Violence: Women's Fight for Dignity

#Methods of Enslaved Women 🚺

Enslaved African American women faced constant sexual abuse with zero legal protection. Laws against rape? Didn't apply to them. 💔
Physical Resistance: They fought back! 👊 They weren't passive victims.
Abortion-Inducing Plants: Used herbs like cotton root bark and peacock flower to end pregnancies resulting from rape. 🌿
Infanticide: A heartbreaking choice to spare their children from slavery's horrors. 😢
Escape: Running away with children to protect their families. 🏃‍♀️💨
Hiding: Harriet Jacobs hid in a tiny attic for seven years to avoid her master's advances. 🏠

Key Concept

Enslaved women's resistance was multifaceted, combining physical, medicinal, and strategic methods. This highlights their agency despite systemic oppression.

Memory Aid

Think "F.A.I.R. H" to remember the methods of resistance: Fighting, Abortion-inducing plants, Infanticide, Running away, Hiding.

![Harriet Jacobs](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Harriet_Jacobs_1890.jpg/330px-Harriet_Jacobs_1890.jpg)
*Harriet Jacobs, who hid for years to escape sexual exploitation*.

#2. Gender in Slave Narratives: Telling Their Stories

#Themes and Genre Impact 🎭

Slave narratives: Firsthand accounts of slavery's brutality. 📖
They detailed escape methods, like the Underground Railroad, and how enslaved people learned to read despite it being illegal. 🚂
These stories emphasized the humanity of enslaved people, challenging the dehumanizing nature of slavery. 💡
Women's Narratives: Focused on domestic life, motherhood, and maintaining dignity amidst sexual exploitation. 🤱
Men's Narratives: Centered on autonomy, reclaiming manhood, and physical resistance. 💪

#Gender Norms in Narratives ♀️♂️

Women's Narratives:
- Adhered to 19th-century gender norms to appeal to white female readers. 🧐
- Portrayed themselves as virtuous, pious, and devoted to their families. 🙏
- Emphasized vulnerability to sexual violence to evoke sympathy. 🥺
- Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" is a prime example. 📚
Men's Narratives:
- Asserted their masculinity, challenging the emasculation of slavery. 😠
- Recounted acts of defiance and physical confrontation. 💥
- Stressed s...

Gender and Resistance in Slave Narratives