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"Unraveled Pieces of Me: A Sociological Analysis of Former African American Slave Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Life in Antebellum Arkansas"

Brantley, Demario Jamar

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Arts, University of Akron, Sociology.
This thesis examines former African American slave women's experience during American slavery. Using archival qualitative interviews from the 8th volume of The American Slave (1941), I examine perceptions of life under slavery, perceptions of life since freedom, comparison of the slavery vs. freedom, and perceptions of types and sources of social support in the interviews of 35 African women who had lived as slaves in the 19th century U.S. Standpoint theory and black feminist thought provide the theoretical framework for the research. Findings suggest that various forms of physical and emotional violence characterized most of the women's perceptions of life under slavery. Some perceived slave life as privileged and easy going and found life since freedom problematic. Some of the women identified changes in gender norms and roles and a decline in work ethic as particularly troubling in the younger generation. They depicted life under slavery as more respectable in terms of community solidarity, work ethic, gender roles and family dynamics. Life since freedom was characterized as chaotic and on the roads to ruin. Participants identified social support in the form of financial assistance in weddings and other life events. Participants derived social support from other slaves, from their mothers or mother figures, but mostly from slaveholders and their families. Finally, I discuss sociological contributions of this study as well as directions for future research.
Kathryn Feltey, Dr. (Advisor)
Cheryl Elman, Dr. (Committee Member)
Tiffany Taylor, Dr. (Committee Member)
54 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brantley, D. J. (2012). "Unraveled Pieces of Me: A Sociological Analysis of Former African American Slave Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Life in Antebellum Arkansas" [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1349720506

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brantley, Demario. "Unraveled Pieces of Me: A Sociological Analysis of Former African American Slave Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Life in Antebellum Arkansas". 2012. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1349720506.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brantley, Demario. ""Unraveled Pieces of Me: A Sociological Analysis of Former African American Slave Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Life in Antebellum Arkansas"." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1349720506

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)