When black women were brought from Africa to the New World as slave laborers; their value was determined by their ability to work as well as their potential to bear children; who by law would become the enslaved property of the mother's master. In Laboring Women: Reproduction and Gender in New World Slavery; Jennifer L. Morgan examines for the first time how African women's labor in both senses became intertwined in the English colonies. Beginning with the ideological foundations of racial slavery in early modern Europe; Laboring Women traverses the Atlantic; exploring the social and cultural lives of women in West Africa; slaveowners' expectations for reproductive labor; and women's lives as workers and mothers under colonial slavery.Challenging conventional wisdom; Morgan reveals how expectations regarding gender and reproduction were central to racial ideologies; the organization of slave labor; and the nature of slave community and resistance. Taking into consideration the heritage of Africans prior to enslavement and the cultural logic of values and practices recreated under the duress of slavery; she examines how women's gender identity was defined by their shared experiences as agricultural laborers and mothers; and shows how; given these distinctions; their situation differed considerably from that of enslaved men. Telling her story through the arc of African women's actual lives—from West Africa; to the experience of the Middle Passage; to life on the plantations—she offers a thoughtful look at the ways women's reproductive experience shaped their roles in communities and helped them resist some of the more egregious effects of slave life.Presenting a highly original; theoretically grounded view of reproduction and labor as the twin pillars of female exploitation in slavery; Laboring Women is a distinctive contribution to the literature of slavery and the history of women.
#572586 in Books Stackpole Books 2008-08-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .94 x 6.00l; 1.25 #File Name: 0811735664384 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. The writing makes the book so much lessBy ccasI am so sorry to be writing a less than glowing review but had expected something else when I purchased the book. I ordered the book without even looking at any reviews and I am sorry for that. I thought I saw a book about women in the military that was current as compared to my experience. I served during the Vietnam era. I thought I'd get an up to date perspective on my experience from long ago. I often avoid books and movies about women in the military since they usually are so inaccurate; it's not enjoyable. But when I saw this book I just ordered it in anticipation of hearing from the service members themselves. I believe that was the intent of the author.I agree with other reviewers regarding the poor writing. Yes I am complaining bitterly because it's a pain to read. Are editors in short supply? The most talented authors still have editors. In spite of that it's still worth reading if you can get past the clumsy and immature writing. As I read I thought I had a young adult book and wondered if this was aimed at youngsters to encourage more women to volunteer.When I volunteered for the service the recruiter openly laughed at me when I asked if I'd ever be able to serve on board ship. He dismissively told me there are no women (on board ship) in this man's navy and never will be. But within a few years of my discharge women had started serving on board some ships. I was encouraged to read in this book that ships are now being built to "accommodate" women crew members. Knowing what I know; that means leaving out the urinals; nothing more.I also agree with one reviewer who acknowledged that some of the poor quality of presentation by the author may be attributed to the writers lack of personal experience in the military. It's a very intense experience that changes you; hopefully for the better. I don't chat about my military experience with non veterans. Being a woman; most people over the years never guess that I am a veteran.It's not too late for more editing and reissue of this book.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Band of Sisters by Kirsten A. HolmstedtBy S. WarfieldBand of Sisters is an excellent account of several woman in the military who served with dedication and courage in Iraq. They represent just about every branch of the Armed Forces in the United States; and several of them are from the Marine Corps. Women have served in just about every war; but never as helicopter pilots; pilots of C130s; or as gunnery sergeants. Some are nurses and some record or photograph the news from the area and send it back to the States; but all of these women covered in the book were there because they wanted to be there.The author lives close to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville; North Carolina; so she had access to a lot of Marines. Some that she interviewed were wives and mothers who made the difficult decision to leave family behind and go to war. One of the nurses grew up in a family of migrant workers; moving all over the country; but she won several awards for her work in Iraq. She doesn't even remember the names of the awards or what they were for because they were of little importance to her compared to her own personal mission of helping the wounded with care and compassion.What I enjoyed most about this book was reading about how the women were accepted by their male counterparts and the camaraderie that grew among them. Sometimes the women were able to sit down with a male soldier or Marine and talk about their children and reassure the man about a sick child at home; because the man had things blown out of proportion from fear and worrying. They all helped each other; and it was a pleasure to read about how well things went when they were all on the same team and working together for a common goal. It is also good to know that there was a lot of respect going both ways for commanders in these interviews and stories of women in war. The women respected their male commanders and the men respected the female commanders and trusted them.The days have passed when women in the military either did nursing or a desk job. Making it legal for women to serve in combat is being discussed presently; but for many of them; they have already been there.Everyone should enjoy this book and it's a book that everyone should read. It brings the reality of war a little closer as seen through the eyes of women in the military; and tells us how they cope and what their strategies are for when they think they can't.Highly recommended.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The flyer she makes out to be the most amazing warrior and the office staff she paints as a ...By Jennifer M.I would have given it 5 stars of Ms Holmstedt had been more encompassing. The only AF women mentioned are a flyer and 1 office staff. The flyer she makes out to be the most amazing warrior and the office staff she paints as a scared mouse who has never seen a gun. First; no one is allowed in Iraq without paying weapons training. Second; as a woman in the USAF; I have had to "school" some female aircrew for not knowing theirjobs or for not being able to pull their weight (literally). Some I wondered how they made it through survival school. I'm not saying all are bad; but I didn't like the one-sided tone in Holmstedt's portrayal. Third; I have never shot less than expert in my AF career - and every time I've shot ithas been windy rainy to the point of the target flying off their stands. Last; I have been stranded in the middle of a foreign airfield because aircrew piled into a GOV left us. We had to carry our gear and personal items to where we were staying. Sometimes we just slept on the plane instead. Next time Holmstedt writes abook about women in the military I suggest she talk to warriors such as medics; nurses; aircraft ground maintenance; commanders of units; etc; who would tell their stories without needing to inject some derogatory detail about another member's ineptitude.
