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An analysis of the occupations of free women in the antebellum USA

Author

Listed:
  • Barry R. Chiswick

    (George Washington University)

  • RaeAnn Halenda Robinson

    (George Washington University)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the occupational status and distribution of free women in the antebellum USA. It considers both their reported and unreported (imputed) occupations, using the 1/100 microdata files from the 1860 Census of Population, the only Census that asked free women’s occupations while slavery was legal. After developing and testing the model based on economic and demographic variables used to explain whether a free woman has an occupation, analyses are conducted comparing their occupational distribution to free men, along with analyses among women by marital status, nativity, and the prevalence of slavery. This paper highlights the importance of including unreported family workers in discussions of free female labor market contributions, as their inclusion dramatically shifts the overall female labor force participation rate, as well as their occupational distribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Barry R. Chiswick & RaeAnn Halenda Robinson, 2024. "An analysis of the occupations of free women in the antebellum USA," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 18(2), pages 363-403, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:cliomt:v:18:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s11698-023-00268-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-023-00268-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Women; Labor force participation; Occupational distribution; Unreported family workers; Enslaved workers; Immigrants; 1860 Census of Population;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J82 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Labor Force Composition

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