Aren't I a woman? Response

Sojourner Truth, was just one of a few women that stood up and acted upon what they believed. In 1851, Sojourner Truth gave a speech , at the Women's Rights Convention, This speech was named Aren't I a woman?; It was a counterargument aimed at a minister who claimed that women could not be equal to men, because Christ was not a woman. However, the purpose of this speech was to empower women. It was meant to reassure them that women deserved just as much rights as men.


Sojourner Truth's speech at the Women's Rights Convention was an informal speech; this worked in Truth's favor, because she was able to have a personal conversation with them. She used the call and response technique to make it seem that she is talking with the audience as opposed to talking at them. "what's this they call it? Intellect" That’s it honey" ( Truth pg. 423). When she called out to the audience and the lady responded, she is empowering the woman. The audience member was able to speak her mind without a man telling her to shut her mouth or without anybody telling her that her opinions did not make any sense. Nobody was there to take her confidence away and cause her to remain to herself. She was able to show the whole room that she was smart and was aware about the things around her. She was going against the stereotype of what women were expected to be. The women was not going to be subjected to any consequences that a man would have gave her for exposing her true self. By talking to them on a more personal level, Sojourner was able to give them a higher self-esteem and their shyness and timidness was taken away from them. She was now giving them back what every man that they ever had to endure had stripped them of. All the women felt that Sojourner Truth was a source of comfort and a fountain of trust. Therefore, they are being empowered; they feel that someone is on their side and advocating for them. Now that they have this, they can stand up for what they believe and if it does not work out, they have something to fall back on.


In conclusion, Sojourner Truth's purpose was thoroughly met. With the help of the call and response technique, she was able to empower the women in the room. One can clearly tell that she wanted to inspire the women and push them to be better than what men expect them to be. Reader's can tell that she is a strong, independent and devoted woman. She cared about other people and made sure she fulfilled something while she was alive.