Abstract

Black women possess what can be called the quintessential otherized body, and as a result have a history of being targeted as acceptable subjects for acts of violence. Their experiences cross boundaries of place, space and time. The devaluation of the female body in general, and the Black female body in particular, serve to marginalize the Black woman in ways that culturally sanction violence and sexual exploitation against her. This paper examines themes of sexual exploitation, violence and resistance in the literary work of Harriet Jacobs, Octavia Butler, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, Gayl Jones and Sister Souljah. The act of writing/telling serves as one of the most important tools of resistance.