Super Short Summary

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.