Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers' They Were Her Property reveals women's significant roles as slave owners, challenging patriarchal historical narratives. Scholars praise its meticulous research and fresh perspective, though some critique its repetitive nature and dense academic tone. Overall, a compelling addition to slavery studies.

Readers of They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers likely have an interest in American history, particularly slavery, and gender studies. Comparable to White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, this book appeals to those seeking to explore the complex roles of women in historical narratives of power and oppression.

They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers examines the significant role white women played in the perpetuation and development of slavery in the 19th century United States, arguing that they were active participants rather than passive bystanders. Through detailed analysis, Jones-Rogers explores how these women learned and practiced slave management, navigated the slave market, and adapted to the changes brought by the Civil War and its aftermath, challenging traditional narratives that depict them as disconnected from the brutal realities of slavery. The book discusses the dehumanizing exploitation of enslaved individuals, including forced labor.

Informative / Challenging / Unnerving / Dark / Contemplative

- They Were Her Property challenges the traditional narrative by highlighting how white women were actively involved in the economic aspects of slavery, demonstrating their roles as slave owners who were often just as brutal as their male counterparts.
- The book uses a wide array of primary sources, including testimonies from formerly enslaved people, to show that white women were deeply embedded in and profited from the American slave economy, providing a new perspective on gender and power dynamics in the Antebellum South.
- Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers won several awards for They Were Her Property, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History, underscoring its impact and contribution to the understanding of American slavery and women's history.

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They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South

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