The phenomenon of slavery affected the black population on varying levels based on gender. As a result women were fundamentally exposed to certain forms of experiences that were different from the men. The struggles women went through in under the umbrella of slavery reveal important elements associated with racism. The text essentially represents a woman's perspective of the events associated with slavery.
The superiority of the male gender and the accompanying male chauvinistic tendencies made heightened their slavery experiences. Through the experiences of Bunt, she exposes the depth of slavery from the woman's point of view. She remarks that, "It makes white fathers cruel and sensual; the sons violent and licentious; it contaminates the daughters, and makes the wives wretched" (54). This serves to expose the manner in which women encountered more suffering on account of their low social status in society, consequently leading to their disapproval in important arenas.
The depth of existing social disintegration from Bunt's perspective further reveals the continuous degradation of the female slaves under their white masters. In one incident Bunt narrates, "Perhaps he was deciding what should be my punishment...Finally he asked, "Do you know what you have said?"..."Do you know that I have the right to do as I like with you,-that I can kill you, if I please?" (42). This incident serves to expose the manner in which manner had lesser rights when it came to making critical decisions affecting their welfare. The fact that women belonged to a lower social status than the men implied that even in situations in which they deserved audience this was rarely granted to them. These events had a great impact on the hierarchy of women leading to the development of sexually oriented tendencies towards them, which further degraded their social standing.
