Shortage Women Quote by David E. Stannard
““Given the shortage of women in California during these early years of white settlement, “a likely young girl” might cost almost double that of a boy, because, as the Marysville Appeal phrased it, girls served the double duty “of labor and of lust.””
About This Quote
In early California, women were scarce, so families valued girls more for both work and sexual exploitation, leading to higher prices for them.
In simple terms: Scarcity raised girls' economic and sexual value.
Key Takeaway
Gender imbalance fuels exploitation.
Themes
gender economics
colonial settlement
sexual exploitation
labor value
demographic scarcity
Mood
critical
somber
analytical
Type
historical observation
sociological insight
When to use this quote
- frontier family negotiations
- marriage markets
- labor hiring
- sex trade
Key Concepts
economic valuation
gender roles
colonial power dynamics
Practical Applications
- historical demographic analysis
- policy on gender equity
Questions to Reflect On
- How did gender ratios shape social hierarchies?
- What are the long‑term effects of valuing women as commodities?
A Different Perspective
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