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

Author

Listed:
  • Barry R. Chiswick

    (Department of Economics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA)

  • Francisco RaeAnn Halenda Robinson

    (Department of Economics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA)

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 & Francisco RaeAnn Halenda Robinson, 2024. "An analysis of the occupations of free women in the antebellum USA," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 18(2), pages 363-403, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:18:y:2024:i:2:p:363-403
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-023-00268-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sex ratio at birth Women · Labor force participation · Occupational distribution · Unreported family workers · Enslaved workers · Immigrants · 1860 Census of Population;

    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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