There is a stigma that only slaves were brutally punished for bad behavior or trying to escape, but behind closed doors women suffered the same pain, or even worse, than slaves from their masters. . Douglass witnessed a number of incidents and described the abuse thus: "The Master kept this lacerated young woman tied up for four hours straight...he would attack her and beat her at breakfast, leave her, come back for dinner and whipped her again. » (44). Another time he saw his Aunt Hester being abused by what he believes to be his father: "...he took her into the kitchen and undressed her, leaving her neck, shoulders and back completely bare...he started to lie down on the heavy cow swing. » (16). Douglass included this event in his narrative because to show readers that men had complete control over their slaves and wives at home. No matter what man thought was best to handle certain situations, slaves disobeying orders or believing women had no rights of their own, 19th century men used abuse to assert their dominance and authority. Douglas described these events in great detail, from the slave masters tying their hands and hanging them, stripping them naked, leaving half of their bodies exposed, but most disturbingly, Douglass witnessed and described the screams and blood pouring onto the ground. Revealing the horrific details of abused women is