The period between the late 16th and 18th centuries marked the rise and fall of a harsh and oppressive system of forced labor known as slavery. Both men and women were forced to require field labor, mental torture, and denied basic human rights. Slaves (regardless of gender) were systematically beaten, separated from their families, and treated like property. Entire communities were broken and destroyed. But somehow the slave narrative has been limited to the experience of men. Books, entertainment and media are inundated with men's stories. If someone searched for “slave” on Google, the results would be filled with images and drawings of black men. Women were as essential to slavery as their male counterparts. Intermarriage between slaves was as one would expect unstable. This is a result of lack of socioeconomic power. Slaves were considered property. Therefore, they could not legally marry. However, there were couples who got married despite the government. It was a way to give stability to their lives. In order to get married in these slave communities the couple had to “jump the broom”. The couple held hands and jumped over a broom. It was a way to create new customs. The tradition of “jumping the broom” originates from Ghana. It symbolizes sweeping away the past and starting over. This ceremony gave legitimacy to their unions within their jobs in the "big house" were almost exclusively for women. Household slaves were responsible for sewing, cooking, cleaning, and caring for their masters' children. Skilled slaves were often the most respected in the slave community. These cooks often prepare meals not only for the master and his family, but also for other slaves. Field labor was often used as punishment against house slaves. Household slaves often had better living conditions while field slaves worked under the scorching sun. Yet they all faced horrible hardships. Female slaves were often molested, raped, and beaten by their masters. It was common and widely accepted by both the white and black communities. Colonial laws against rape did not apply to slaves. These rapes would naturally lead to slaves having children with their masters. Control of their reproductive system was essential for the growth of the master's plant. Forced marriages and now rape were a way to ensure that there would be another generation of