Gender Roles of Slaves

Slavery was a gruesome experience for all people of the African descent. However, the instances that occurred in a slave’s life differentiated between men and women.

Although it was perceived that women slaves were subjected to less demanding and less harsh labor this was in fact untrue. Black women redefined gender roles by working in the fields doing hands on labor beside black men. Furthermore, black women were frequently working pregnant or soon after pregnancy. Other stereotypes circling Black women was the idea of them being over sexual beings compared to their white counter parts. This idea originally came from when Englishmen first went to Africa to buy slaves. “Unaccustomed to the requirements of the tropical climate, Europeans mistook seminudity for lewdness…polygamy was attributed to the Africans’ uncontrolled lust, tribal dances were reduced to the level of the orgy…(Mitchell, pg 29).” The increase in the slave population was in great demand for slave owners, however, the reproduction of more slaves was attributed to a slave’s woman lust. Furthermore, some were convinced that black females gave sexual advance to white men and any resistance from white men was mere pretend.

Slavery caused a formation of sisterhood between the female slaves. Although, families could be separated once sold, women (mothers and daughters) were usually kept together. This formation of sisterhood was a form of support where slaves could use each other as dependence. “It has already been noted that the pregnant female slaves could usually depend on the company of her peers during delivery convalescence.” A woman would even sometimes serve as a caretaker for someone else’s children. Also, there was a hierarchy of respect, with ...

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... White revolutionaries and group peoples such as the Quakers began to speak against human bondage. In 1774, once Continental Congress voted to outlaw the slave trade, Rhode Island law stated, “Those who are desirous of enjoying all the hands of liberty should be willing to extend personal liberties to others (Trotter, pg 110).” Still, though African Americans where able to participate in the early beginnings of the war colonists rejected blacks to become soldiers. Yet, as slaves and free blacks began to join British lines in high numbers revolutionaries began drafting them into the military.

Through tactics of resistance throughout the war Blacks were able to regain some of their own freedoms. The war is significant in that it forced Whites to disregard pass racial barriers against the slaves. It ultimately led to over five thousand Blacks to regain freedom.