"Spinifex Fairies’: Aboriginal Workers in the Northern Territory, 1911-1939

Abstract

Following the initial conquest stage, which normally involved the expropriation of the indigenous population from their land, it was a common feature of colonial societies for the new settlers to exploit the indigenes for their labour, and specifically the women for sex. Yet the role of Aboriginal women as workers for white settlers is an aspect of Australian history which has received little attention. This may not be surprising considering the male-dominated nature of history and anthropology, but even recent feminist writers have made only scant attempts to redress the imbalance. Show more