| dc.description.abstract | In the course of the nineteenth century, Suriname witnessed the emergence of a free non-white class. Jurist Ellen Neslo has determined an elite within this class who had attained economic stability, with many of them living prestigious lives. This thesis investigates this class further, with a particular eye towards how Surinamese society offered the opportunity for slaves to climb the social ladder towards this elite. The main question guiding the analysis is how (former) slave women living in Suriname between 1770 and 1863 moved up towards the free non-white elite. I test the argument that marriage was the most successful way of improving their social position and a strategy of social advancement, since this above all would improve a (former) slave woman’s economic position.
The thesis begins with a discussion of how Surinamese society offered an opening for the free non-white class, and later elite, to emerge. Secondly, the research focuses on (former) slave women, the signs of social distinction, and the significance of marriage as a factor which could influence the move of an individual (former) slave woman towards the free non-white elite. In the final chapter, five case studies are investigated in order to gain a better idea of (possible) choices made by individual slave women who advanced socially. Whereas other historians have discussed this class (and elite) as a larger group, then, this research offers a more detailed look into a selection of women.
Multiple factors could influence the social position of (former) slave women and help them advance towards the free non-white elite. From my research I can conclude that a relationship to a white, wealthy man would be the most influential. The relationships that slave women would start with their wealthy, white owner could lead to manumission, an official marriage and children.
Manumission was the first important step to grow into a higher position. Afterwards, this alliance could mean that these women would inherit capital and property. Marriage, however, was most likely not a strategy for social advancement because slave women did not have to marry in order to gain economic and thus social advantages. Being in a relationship with a wealthy white man was enough in order to at least nominally move into the wealthy free non-white elite.
This contributes to historiographical work on slave society in Suriname and Surinamese slave women. The common idea on slaves in general and on slave women in particular is that they possess a very passive position: slaves were the victims of the system and did not have any agency whatsoever. In order for them to gain a more humane and individual character, research on the individual slave has to be done. As can be concluded from this research, slave women could have a certain agency in their lives. | |
