Male slaves would work the fields and complete much of the physical factory work, but of course would not be able fulfill the male needs of their master which is why women were considered to be so essential in the slave trade. Conversely, women would use their sexual abilities as a way of earning privilege, “slave women were able to secure small favours for casual sex, a universal strategy for survival in adversity also employed by female slaves in the Caribbean,” (Bush 2008). This meant that by performing these acts, willingly and endearingly, women would be able to establish a sense of power. It would enable them to develop relationships with their slave owners, which would in turn give them better treatment and