TOW #11 - Ain't I a Woman?

In the 1800’s, equality was not achieved. The fights for equality that occurred in the 1800’s are important in shaping the status of women and minorities today. Sojourner Truth was very influential and inspirational to women of that time period and even today. The author, Sojourner Truth, was an African-American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. She is very credible because she was born into slavery and understands the hardships that came with being a slave and the need for equality between all people. In her text, Truth is explaining to a crowd that women are strong enough to stand together and demand equal rights. The speech was given at a Women’s Convention in Ohio in 1851 because women were not treated equally in the 1800’s. The audience was women and some men who supported women’s rights.

The author employs repetition and allusions to make her message effective. She utilizes repetition with the phrase “ain’t I a woman” to show that she has the same strength as a man, but is a woman. That has a powerful effect on the speech because she shows that women aren’t weak, she is an example of a very strong woman. Another rhetorical device that the author uses is allusions. She alludes to the story of Adam and Eve in the bible when she says, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again!” She uses Eve’s story to show that women have the power to make a big change in the world, and although Eve’s was negative it still shows the power that women have. The allusion empowers women to get their rights back. The author wants to show women that they can team up and fight for their rights because women are strong.  I think the author did an excellent job of accomplishing her purpose because she made me feel empowered as a woman and think about my personal strength.