Linda Brent decided to enter into a relationship with a single, white male to stop the sexual advances from her master. She believed this would be the only way for him to sell her, since she was no longer pure. (48; "A Perilous Passage In The Slave Girl's Life"). Female slaves were robbed of the chance to have the same moral and values of white women.
The ideology of domesticity that wives were expected to fit into came about with the rise of slaves. As wealthy men bought slaves to keep their houses and plantations running, their wives had fewer tasks to complete that were vital to the survival of the family, which in turn made their role in the household not as crucial. "Asserting one's self over slaves was a way of declaring power over another group of people and could serve as a way to feel more significant to plantation life" (Moore). Unfaithful husbands were commonly the reason behind violence perpetrated by plantation mistresses. When a master took up with a female slave, usually through sexual assault or rape, their wives would often take out their anger on the object of his attention instead of her husband. This was a severely misguided approach, but typically the only course of action available to white women. Lashing out at someone who had virtually no power over their situation probably gave these women a sense of control. Mrs. Flint blamed Linda for the fact that Dr. Flint was pursuing her. She became very abusive to Linda for this fact and did not try to help her get away from Dr. Flint (31; "The Jealous Mistress"). Mistresses also aimed their violence towards the products of their husband's actions, the children of slaveholders and enslaved women. .
Some slaves believed having affairs with their masters would help them be treated better than other slaves. When attractive slaves agreed to starting sexual relationship with their masters, they were treated better and were favorites in the eyes of the masters.