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Intersectionality and the Perpetuation of White Male Power

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Intersectionality and the Perpetuation of White Male Power INTERSECTIONALITY AND THE PERPETUATION OF WHITE MALE POWER THROUGH INTERRACIAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE A Dissertation by RACHEL A. FEINSTEIN Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Joe R. Feagin Committee Members, Holly Foster Joseph Jewell Tasha Dubriwny Head of Department, Jane Sell May 2014 Major Subject: Sociology Copyright 2014 Rachel A. Feinstein ABSTRACT The purpose of this dissertation research is to investigate the reactions and attitudes of white men, white women, black men, and black women to the sexual violence of enslaved black women carried out by white men. Using an intersectional approach, these reactions and attitudes elucidate the way intersecting institutions of oppression interact and reinforce one another. Whereas most intersectional analysis emphasizes the location and experience of black women, or other oppressed groups, the current study focuses predominantly on the role of dominant groups. Examining the reactions and attitudes of various groups reflects the set of incentives, tactics, and consequences particular to each intersectional location which bolster institutions of oppression broadly by reducing resistance from subordinated groups. Using original sources including diaries, autobiographies, Works Progress Administration slave narratives, court cases and petitions from slavery allows for an analysis of this historical form of exploitation and oppression and the racialized gendered norms that were commonly used to perpetuate power and privilege of the dominant group. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Joe Feagin, for his guidance in the development of this project and his support. His expertise in research and theory and his enthusiasm for studying critical topics such as systemic racism and sexism have made for invaluable mentorship. Dr. Feagin has provided consistent encouragement and support throughout this process, motivating me to continue with this work. I am grateful to have worked with Dr. Feagin as my advisor and mentor. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Holly Foster, Dr. Joseph Jewell, and Dr. Tasha Dubriwny for their guidance throughout the course of this research. In particular, I am appreciative of Dr. Foster’s expertise and direction for incorporating criminological literature on intersectionality, masculinity, and inequality to connect my historical findings to contemporary implications. Moreover, Dr. Foster’s kind words have always been encouraging and inspiring; it has been an absolute pleasure working with her. I would also like to thank Dr. Jewell for his expertise in various theoretical perspectives, his encouragement to integrate these theories into the current project, and his guidance in structuring research projects to develop generalizable concepts. Each of these has strengthened my dissertation research and fostered research skills to be applied in future endeavors, and I am very appreciative of his advice. Thank you to Dr. Dubriwny who has provided me with indispensable feedback throughout the process regarding race and gender literature and the analysis process. I am extremely appreciative of Dr. Dubriwny’s continuous support and enthusiasm for the project. iii I would also like to thank the Women and Gender Studies program at Texas A&M University for awarding me with their Dissertation Fellowship which provided financial assistance necessary to travel to Washington, D.C. This opportunity allowed me to collect data from the Library of Congress which was crucial for the current study. I am also indebted to Rebecca Hankins, the Africana Resources Librarian, Bill Page, the Program Coordinator, and Joel Kitchens, the History Librarian at Texas A&M University who have all been extremely helpful in assisting me with locating resources for this study and determining terminology regarding rape of enslaved women to use in my review of documents. Lastly, I would like to extend a special thank you to my parents, siblings, and partner for their patience, advice, and unconditional support. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Objective ......................................................................................................................... 2 Frequency of Interracial Rape during Slavery ................................................................ 4 Definitions & Legal Implications of Rape and Sexual Violence ................................... 8 Euphemistic Language around Rape ............................................................................ 16 Voices of Enslaved Black Women and Men and Resistance ....................................... 17 Organization of the Chapters ........................................................................................ 18 CHAPTER II: DEVELOPING UPON INTERSECTIONAL THEORY ........................ 21 Feminist & Feminist Criminology Theories on Rape ................................................... 22 Racism Theory .............................................................................................................. 33 Gender ........................................................................................................................... 40 Research on the Rape of Black Women ....................................................................... 43 Agency & Resistance .................................................................................................... 53 Instability of the Rigid Race Relations ......................................................................... 55 Intersectionality ............................................................................................................ 56 Developing Concepts: Intersectional Incentives, Tactics, and Consequences ............. 63 Significance of this Theoretical Contribution and Research ........................................ 72 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 75 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER III: METHODS ............................................................................................. 78 Intersectionality Methods ............................................................................................. 78 Research Design ........................................................................................................... 80 Procedures & Analysis ................................................................................................. 87 Determining Themes .................................................................................................... 89 Three Analytical Concepts: Intersectional Incentives, Tactics, Consequences ............ 92 CHAPTER IV: INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF WHITE MALE PRIVILEGE AND RACIALIZED GENDERED NORMS THROUGH SELECT COURT CASES ............ 94 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 94 The Law and Racial Inferiority ..................................................................................... 98 Court Cases Involving Sexual Violence against Enslaved Black Women ................. 103 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 121 v CHAPTER V: WHITE MASCULINITY AND WHITE SONS ................................... 126 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 126 The White Family and White Gender Roles ............................................................... 129 Incentives Created by Context: Intergenerational Transmission of White Masculinity ...................................................................................................... 133 Incentives: Social Norms and Virginity ..................................................................... 143 Intersectional Incentive: Recreational Use of Rape by Sons ...................................... 150 Intersectional Tactic: Raping Lighter-Skinned Enslaved Black Women ................... 154 Intersectional Tactic: “Courting” as a White Masculine Ritual ................................. 160 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 165 CHAPTER VI: WHITE WOMEN’S REACTIONS TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE OF ENSLAVED BLACK WOMEN .................................................................................... 171 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 171 Intersectional Tactics and Intersectional Incentives: Language Used by White Women in Petitions for Divorce ................................................................................. 174 Additional Data Sources & Analysis on White Women ............................................ 196 Intersectional Tactic: Ignoring Sexual Violence of Black Enslaved Women and Associated Incentives ................................................................................................. 198 Intersectional Tactic: Punishing Black Enslaved Women for Husbands’
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