Since very early on in the colonial period, slavery surrounded American society. Female slaves, though, had a distinct life, one that is many times too inhumane to believe. Click on the link below for more details on what these women had to endure.
Generally, female slaves were seen as a means to produce more slaves for the owner by virtue of a females ability to reproduce. This gave value to their owner as more able bodies became available without even having to purchase. However, this meant that these females were being used on terms of a mere means, for how many children they could produce.
Despite the attempt to dehumanize not just women slaves but all slaves, these strong women were at the center of trying to keep a nuclear family of their own. Many married men that were owned by the same owner, although never legal. The women would then head the household in which was many times off site from their master's plantation, cooking, cleaning, sewing and raising children. Many times, though, the male would be sold elsewhere, leaving the women to uphold their marriage and family as best possible.