That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! and ain’t i a woman? look at me! look at my arm! i have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! and ain’t i a woman? i could work as much and eat as much as a man â€" when i could get it â€" and bear the lash as well! and ain’t i a woman? i have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when i cried out with my mother’s grief, none but jesus heard me! and ain’t i a woman? to suggest that audience should worry about her to reinforce the idea that men should be more helpful to suggest that females are tougher than males to reinforce that she is strong, resilient and female