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Assignment # 1 – Davis Chapter 3

In Chapter 3 of Davis’ book Women, Race, and Class, Davis does convey the relationship between gender, race, and class. This relationship is revealed in the depiction and the contributions made by Sojourner Truth at the first National Convention on Women’s Rights in Massachusetts. Ms. Truth was an ex-slave who fought for equal rights for all women.

At this convention, Ms. Truth reveals that although white women were in attendance at the convention, the white women exhibited racism toward black women. Nevertheless, Ms. Truth unlike the white women in attendance was brave and took on all that were in attendance with her famous speech. This speech silenced all the negative remarks she had been receiving from the crowd. Moreover, Davis reveals that Ms. Truth’s speech exposed that all women share the same gender and should all possess equal rights. Her message was heard and helped to remind white women as well as men, that all women were equal. Ms. Truth further reveals in her speech that race and class should not impact ones’ womanhood and her right to be free.   Davis acknowledges that class does not dictate a women’s right to have equal rights. Economics should not play a role in the women’s movement.

In Chapter 3, Davis reveals the relationship between gender, race, and class through the depiction of Sojourner Truth’s contribution for the women’s movement. Her speech that she bravely gave at the convention in Massachusetts revealed that gender was an issue in the eyes of men, as well as in the views from white women. Race and Class equally impacted the sexist views, as black women seemed more inferior to white women because they came from different economic backgrounds. Nevertheless, her famous speech helped to energize the women’s movement and it called for equal rights and freedom for all women.