Slavery in Colonial America
Slavery refers to a situation in which one human being is owned by another, either through purchase, being born into slavery, or being kidnapped. An enslaved person was considered by law as property, or chattel, and was deprived of most of the rights ordinarily held by free persons. During the Colonial American period, the first batch of enslaved people brought from Africa into the British colonies were men who were considered to be more valuable than women. Later on, auctions for enslaved women were introduced. Even though both genders were traded as enslaved people, there were some significant differences in how they were treated, the roles they played for their owners, and how they were used.
Gender-Based Differences Between Slaves and Their Experiences
Purpose of Enslavement
One of the differences in which slavery differed between black men and women was the reason for their slavery. In many cases, women were bought as enslaved people and used for their reproduction, while the men were acquired for their physical abilities. Many of the people who acquired women as enslaved people focused on their sexuality and reproduction, and reproductive potential, thus capitalizing on them. A person born in slavery was considered an enslaved person, too, and could therefore be sold or used as an enslaved person.
Many traders capitalized on this and forced women to copulate with their fellow slaves, forcing them to get pregnant. The kids sired from these relationships were considered slaves and were separated from their mothers immediately after they got older. Slaves were deprived of the right to marriage and parenthood, thus breaking any form of family ties (Wood 41). Selling and auctioning children to any willing or highest bidder became easier. Other masters kept them till they were old enough to work in their plantations, increasing their workforce without purchasing other enslaved people.
Division of Labor
Another difference is the type of labor that each gender was assigned to. Many times, the men were captured to be used as a labor force in the plantations of white people. During an auction, their hands and bodies were thoroughly checked to ensure they could handle heavy work. Men were considered to have more physical ability and could handle heavy work or jobs requiring manual labor. This included working on the farms, operating machinery, building houses, plowing fields, and working in other sectors such as blacksmiths and sworders.
Conversely, women were mainly used to conducting and running household chores and ensuring the compounds were thoroughly maintained. They were considered unable to carry the heavy lifting; thus, they were given domestic roles such as nannies, cooks, and basket weavers (Lerner 78). In some cases, they were also left to care for the mistress of the house and their children. This means that while the men worked in the fields, the women were left at their owners’ homes.
Variations in Physical Abuse and Torture
Another significant difference between black women and black men in colonial America was the physical abuse and torture administered to each gender. In case an enslaved person misbehaved or did something wrong, the masters delivered punishments, which in most cases were in the form of beating or torture. Both genders were subjected to these disciplinary actions, although the cases were heavier and worse for the men.
There was the belief that men could endure more physical torture and pain, thus making their punishments severe. Some types of punishments included whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, mutilation, branding, rape, and imprisonment (Pallitto 45). These types of punishments often left the victim with severe wounds and permanent scars and, in some cases, led to the death of the victim.
The Impact of Sexual Assault
Another issue that impacted women more than men relates to sexual assault by whites. Due to the notion and belief that black women have a higher sexual drive, many masters abused their slaves sexually. Many women were forced to have sexual relations with their masters, and even those who willingly did so were deprived of their consent rights (Wood 42). This meant that white masters could do whatever they wanted with them.
The problem was made worse by the fact that black women were not allowed to resist advances from their owners and overseers, as this was a violation. According to Feinstein, colonial laws regarding statutory rape were not applied to blacks as well as their children (18). This meant that they were prohibited by law from defending themselves against abuse, sexual and otherwise, at the hands of Whites. An enslaved person who defended herself against the attack of a White person was subject to cruel beatings by either the master or mistress, regardless of whether they were pregnant.
Food Provision
Black men and women differed during the American colonial period in how they were provided with food. The women were in an advantageous situation since they worked in households and were allocated jobs as cooks. This meant they had access to their owners’ food and could be better nourished than the men, as they could eat leftovers from what was left by their overseers.
According to Ball’s narrations, women were allowed to make food first before men were given a chance to feed (68). They were expected to feed better, especially when pregnant, to ensure they delivered healthy babies that could be auctioned or used as laborers. In most cases, the men were given food only for nourishment and energy to ensure they continued working on the farms. The only chance men had at getting food was collecting leftovers from the fields, which was unlikely in most cases.
Influence of Physical Attributes
Depending on a person’s physical attributes, the experience of black men and women differed. Men with heavily built bodies went for a higher price, and their auction was competitive as masters and overseers considered them a great free labor force (McConachie 74). Many of these black men were transported to large plantations since their owners could afford the high prices. Moving to large plantations meant more work compared to the smaller areas.
However, women were auctioned at a lower price and, in most cases, ended up in small farm plantations that did not require a lot of hours. This, however, meant that they would end up working on the small farms while helping with household chores.
Variations in Movement and Freedom
Black men and women during the Colonial American period experienced differences in matters of movement and freedom. Men who could learn and acquire skills and crafts such as blacksmithing, wood carving, and metal works had the advantage of leaving their designated area to learn from other laborers and improve their skills. Additionally, working in the plantations benefited those with a particular set of skills since some planters required enslaved people with specific skills and were willing to pay slave traders a premium for them (Ball 64). The situation was different for the women as they were mostly confined to working in the houses and tending to their owners’ family needs and household chores.
Works Cited
Ball, Charles. “Fifty Years In Chains; or, The Life of an American Slave. Documenting the American South, University Library, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2000.” (1859).
Feinstein, Rachel A. When rape was legal: The untold history of sexual violence during slavery. Routledge, 2018.
Lerner, Gerda. The creation of patriarchy. Vol. 1. Women and History; V. 1, 1986.
McConachie, Bruce. “Slavery and Authenticity: Performing a Slave Auction at Colonial Williamsburg.” Theatre Annual 51 (1998): 71-81.
Pallitto, Robert M., ed. Torture and State Violence in the United States: A Short Documentary History. JHU Press, 2011.
Wood, Betty. Slavery in colonial America, 1619–1776. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005.