Muhammad Syaifulloh Al Faqih

C0310037

An Analysis of Black Womens Dual Oppression

As Represented in 12 Years a Slave Movie

In 2013, a movie about slavery entitled 12 Years a Slave was released. The main
focus on the movie is actually the life of Solomon Northup or Platt (His slave name) as a
slave for 12 years. He was actually a free black man who lives in Saratoga, New York
alongside with white American.

One day he was kidnapped by American man and

transferred to the South. He became victim of slave trafficking, and forced to lie about his
previous life as a free man. He have seen a brutal treat that slaves got from the white (master
of the slave), so in order to survive he just obey what the white says. He met two women
slave who later on became close to him, they are Eliza and Patsy. Eliza is a mother of two
children who seperated from their children because of the master didnt want to sell her
children. Patsy is a hardworker woman slave who has a lot of issues in her life as slavery.
From the brief summary of 12 years a Slave above, Id would like to make a further
analysis on the black women slave life. Black women (including the free one) faces dual
oppression which are racism and sexism from white and black society itself. Their life is not
easy because they need to deal with the false stereotype that already stitched in American
society. It is hard enough to be black woman, so how if you are black woman and slave? The
picture of that condition pretty much clearly describe in 12 Years a Slave movie.
According to Meriam Webster dictionary racism is a belief that race is the primary
determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent
superiority of a particular race. People who are racist tends to see their race is better or
higher in term of social status than others. This kind of attitude evoke hatred from the both
side, but usually the lower one is stay quite and just take the racism act, because they dont
have any power to fight it. The most general racism and clearly can be seen in American
society is racism toward black by white American. Based on Merriam Webster dictionary,
sexist is unfair treatment of people because of their sex. It also a behavior, condotions or
attitudes that foster stereotypes of roles based on sex.

In the movie 12 years a slave, both Eliza and Patsey experience racism act toward
them. Black women are stereotyped as strong, so they can bear everything, even the worst
thing in life because of their superpower. Mrs. Ford (Elizas master wive) didnt see this
kind of myth in Eliza, because she always cry all the time when she think about her children.
Ms. Ford must have a belief that black woman should not cry for something because black
woman can bear anyting. Finally because the cry didnt stop and Ms.Ford was annoyed, we
can see in the movie two white male drag her out of the Fords property. The sexist act toward
her is when the slaves master sell her with lower price rather than Patt. It is common in
slave market that black male price is always higher that black female one. But this kind of act
is definetly sexist,because actually they can do the same thing in the field. Eliza and Patsey
also experienced a sexism act from Patt (black male) when he didnt want to hear about their
request, and as if he only care about his own problem, and want to solve his own problem.
The strong stereotype from the white also can be found in Patseys case. She is the
most hardworking slave that Mr.Epps have. The is labeled as queen of the field, nigger
among niggers. The image of strong black woman also let the white thing that they can do
anything toward them, they can torture them as they pleased because the black woman can
endure it. Patsey also deals with female evil and sexual lust stereotype in American society
toward black woman. The white woman often think that the black woman try to seduce their
husband, they act like a whore in order to be raped by the white man. The sexual abuse that
they had is actually their own fault. Mrs.Epps did the same thing to Patsey, she threwthe wine
bottle in the middle of dance session to Patsey when she saw the sexual interest from her
husband to Patsey. She asked her husband to sell Patsey but Mr.Epps rejected her request, and
her anger toward Patsey was getting worse. Because of this stereotype (sexist stereotype) of
black as a female evil (a whore), Mr. Epps finally approched Patsey in the middle of the night
and forced her to have sex with him. Patsey also experienced whip punishment because she
try to defend herself by expressed her opinion.This racism act os really clear because,
Mrs.Epps (white woman) can say anything what she want and give her thought to her
husband, she is free to say her opinion, but in the case of Patsey is different because of her
skin.