In reading both female and male stories of the realities of daily life as a slave, there are many differences with the way life was portrayed based on the gender of the individual. There are also many similarities between the male and female slaves as well, mostly on the treatment and chores they had to perform each day.
One major difference was the chores each had to accomplish everyday. Male slaves were mostly put to do the physical labor, while the women tended to their masters needs. One role that female slaves were sometimes forced to do was have children. Most were very reluctant to do this, since they knew that as soon as the child was born they would automatically become slaves, and most women would rather have their child die than be put through slavery. .
The female slaves were usually embarrassed when in came time to be sold. For example, Sojourner Truth recalls the fact that she would be forced to strip naked while being auctioned off. This took away whatever pride these women had left. Also that fact that they would be separated from their children once sold was hard enough. Also the wives of most masters" became jealous of the female slaves because their husbands would sometimes pay more attention to them.
The most troubling aspect of being a female slave was the sexual abuse they received with their masters. They would mostly demand sexual relations with these women. Their masters would beat them and then rape them, and if they refused they would be beaten until they gave in. .
However this type of relationship was sometimes in the female slaves favor, in the fact that they would receive more privileges and have better treatment if they pleased their master. But this would backfire however. For example in Hannah Craft's Novel, "The Bondwoman's Narrative," she had to cope with the constant jealousy and distrust of the mistress that more than likely led to more beatings and less privileges.
