CHILDCARE IN GOR

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May 2012

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May 28 - Memorial Day

[Jethro Button]

OK, I am being lazy not researching this one myself, but I know how many book rats there are out there!

Simple question, childcare... Would a Master/Mistress ask their slave to help look after a baby or child? Would it depend on what type of slave he/she was? Would the slave be trusted to do so, or would it depend on the proven loyalty of that slave? Are there any other factors to consider?

Book quotes, as always, would be useful, if they exist. Would John Norman have lowered himself to have considered such mundane details of his world in the chronicles?

[thyri Carver]

In a family house, of course, girls are almost always modestly garbed. Children of many houses might be startled if they could see the transformation which takes place in their pretty Didi or Lale, whom they know as their nurse, governess and playmate, when she is, in their absence or after their bedtime, ordered to the chamber of one of the young masters, there to dance lasciviously before him, and then to be had, and as a slave. Guardsman of Gor, page 106


So far in my morning haze is the only quote I can find that showed a direct link between childcare and slaves.  Most of the other references show slaves kneeling to free children. 

But we do have a quote linking a slave to childcare.

As for a man/women having a slave tend to a child.  I think it would depends on the circumstances of the slavery.  Is the slave a captive?  Is the slave owned jointly by the couple and is a part of the household?  Or is the slave the man's plaything?  Or the woman's plaything?  So I would say yes its possible and plausible that a slave would take care of a child.  Heck someone else to take care of midnight feedings, changings, burpings....

[pasy namiboo]

My understanding is that yes, female slaves did provide child care, however, they were not allowed to provide any education to a child, even if they possessed the knowledge.

[Harvey Ruby]

Simply put a slave is to be absolutely obedient to their Master or Mistress. They will do what is commanded of them as if their life depends on it, Because it does. They will dress and conduct themselves in the manner which their owner chooses.

and fortune cookies aside, to posses a slave who may have been well educated and capable of teaching would be rather wasteful and we know how Goreans abhor waste. A Good Master uses His slave any and every way he wishes, Not just in the furs, but in any capacity the owner sees fit.

[pasy namiboo]

I dissagree with this constant use of "thier life depends on it". There are plenty of examples in the books where slaves were punished in varying degrees of harshness for being "disobediant" or "displeasing". Also other examples of them being sold for the same. I say if those on SL Gor want to keep using this statement in such a blanket form, then put it in action and let the killing begin.

Gorean law dictates that slaves do not teach free children, regardless of how educated they may be, because it places them in a status of authority over a free person, child or not.

[thyri Carver]

I think we need to split the difference between "education" and "wisdom" in this case then.  I think an intelligent slave may be able to impart wisdom to a child but not educate them in the ways of their caste or in the ways a free person is to act within society.    I think there is a fairly vast difference there.  The slave may have information to impart, but it is shared information then and not education. 

[Betony Baryl]

Well said Thyri.  I agree that they would not educate as that would make the free beholden to them.  (I believe there was a statement to this effect in Nomads.  I don't have the quote at my fingertips)

One other question that comes up along these lines is about wet nurses.  In my opinion, if there were wet nurses it would have to be a female peasant as pregnant slaves would not be readily available.  Slaves were given slavewine as it was not their role to bear future generations of Goreans. Slaves were there to give sexual pleasure and labor for the frees.  Slaves that became pregnant were usually specifically bred with a kajirus for some quality that was found desireable.  Both the kajira and kajirus would be hooded so it was a very impersonal coupling.  And this was done by slavers; not by personal owners.  (Anyone have quotes they'd like to share on this?)

[Harvey Ruby]

a wet nurse, like a milking cow need only get pregnant once. so long as she is milked regularly, she will not dry up. she would not even necessarily have to carry full term. Milk comes in usually some time in the 3rd trimester. Also some Masters may have a penchant for fresh warm milk straight from the tap. The breasts of a lactating woman are dramatically larger than one who is dry, which would be a plus as well.

I havent found anything suggesting that slave wine has any effect whatsoever on lactation. If the slave were impregnated, gave birth, then the child sold or raised as her Master's property, well regardless of the child's disposition. the Milk will flow and can be kept flowing for as long as desired.

[Ginger Shamrock]

a wet nurse, like a milking cow need only get pregnant once. so long as she is milked regularly, she will not dry up. she would not even necessarily have to carry full term. Milk comes in usually some time in the 3rd trimester. Also some Masters may have a penchant for fresh warm milk straight from the tap. The breasts of a lactating woman are dramatically larger than one who is dry, which would be a plus as well.

I havent found anything suggesting that slave wine has any effect whatsoever on lactation. If the slave were impregnated, gave birth, then the child sold or raised as her Master's property, well regardless of the child's disposition. the Milk will flow and can be kept flowing for as long as desired.

Milk normally comes in 30-50 hours after birth, and starts off as colostrum.  If slave wine contained some sort of estrogen, then yes, it would tend to dry up milk production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactation

[Ansleys Ashbourne]

I think that if Man had a thing like that.. would there not be slaves bred for that?