Final answer:
Enslaved men in the 19th century South had higher success rates in running away due to greater mobility and access to social networks, whereas women faced more challenges due to child-rearing responsibilities and limited mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 19th century in the Southern United States, men in the enslaved population generally enjoyed higher success rates in running away from their masters compared to women and children. Enslaved men often had more mobility since they were sometimes hired out to work in towns and cities, thereby providing them with greater knowledge of the geography and potential social networks to aid their escape. By contrast, enslaved women typically had less mobility due to child-rearing responsibilities and a more restricted sphere of movement, which made permanent escapes more challenging. Nevertheless, in instances of immediate threat such as the sale of family members, some women, like Ellen Craft, managed to carry out daring escapes to the North with their families despite the incredible odds.