Post abolition; Formerly enslave Continuity of Hierarchical Structures in the Post-Abolition: An Analysis of the Trajectory of Newly Freed Black Women in the Domestic

Persistence of Subalternity: Examining the Permanence of Social Hierarchies in the Experiences of Black Women in the Post-Abolition Domestic Context

Abstract

This article examines the persistence of hierarchical structures after the emancipation of former slaves in 1888, highlighting that, despite formal liberation, many continued to perform menial jobs. Focusing specifically on recently freed black women, the study reveals the lack of significant transition in social relationships, especially in the private context of their former masters' homes. In this sense, this article seeks to demonstrate that, even with abolition, these women faced challenging conditions when remaining in the same work environment, highlighting the complexity of effective social transformation after the end of slavery. Analyzing the concrete meaning of freedom in the social lives of formerly enslaved women represents an important step towards understanding their relationship with work, especially in the domestic sphere.