Slave gender ratios by role on Worthy Park Estate, Jamaica 1784-1838

During slavery in the Americas, gender played a significant part in the role given to slaves. Apart from domestic and hospital positions, males on Worthy Park Estate (one of the largest and most successful plantations in Jamaica at this time) were promoted to positions of authority at a much higher rate than females. Males were also entrusted with skilled positions, whereas females were more likely enrolled as unskilled laborers. The largest groups of workers on plantations were field hands, who performed the most intensive labor. In Worthy Park, over seventy percent of the first gang, viewed as the most productive field workers, were females. In contrast, the role of watchmen (which was also unskilled) almost exclusively went to males.