This month’s column deals with slaves who work outside the home. On the world of Gor, of course, slaves were rarely a direct source of income for the owner, except for tavern girls, dancers, and other such specific instances of property-for-hire. On Earth, renting out one’s slaves is likely to raise more than a few eyebrows, assuming even that such rental is legal in your jurisdiction, regardless of the purpose.

Moreover, the reality of today’s economy is that many homes simply cannot afford to keep a slave ’employed’ only as kettle-and-mat girl, but must send her outside the home, with or without a coinbox, to bring additional income into the household. What issues arise from such a situation? Well, the first and most obvious is, who does the housework? A girl who’s working a fulltime job, AND expected to perform all the household maintenance, is quite likely going to have zero energy for funtime when she finally reaches the furs. A household with 2 or more slaves, who share the housework in the evenings, may be able to do better at this than a single slave could... nonetheless, a slaveowner might, out of simple enlightened self-interest, choose to take a hand in everyday tasks just so that everyone can be done a little quicker.

One of the questions I’ve seen repeated from time to time on the boards is the question of slaves in supervisory positions at work- does this compromise her slavery? It need not- the real question should be whether her slavery compromises her ability to effectively supervise. When a master sends a girl in to work and tells her to do a good job, that means that whatever she does is in service to him, whether or not she has to command male subordinates, and she’d better do a good job of it... the hard part is going to be overcoming her natural responses if she happens to be charged with supervising a masterful man, one who pushes back when she attempts to direct him.

Another issue I’ve seen raised is one of mindset... that it takes a certain amount of time to switch from ’work mode’ to ’slave mode’. That phrasing is a bit misleading... a girl who is a slave is always a slave, however, I’ll agree that the mindset a girl has on the job is quite likely to be different from that when she is engaged in personal service to her master. There’s no easy answer to this one; if your girl needs a half hour when she gets home to unwind or else she’s going to be unable to be pleasing, well, your options are either to give her that half hour, deal with her repeated failure to be pleasing when you call on her too quickly, or find her another line of work which she can recover from more quickly.

On the plus side for outside employment, aside from the extra income itself: health insurance is quite costly if you attempt to acquire it as a private individual, and most company plans won’t allow a slaveowner to cover his slave under his policy unless they’re married. Even if you can cover your slave as a ’committed partner’ or some such thing, good luck getting a second slave covered the same way- or keeping your first one covered if you marry someone else.

All told, there are arguments on both sides of the employment issue. I’m fortunate enough not to need the income kaylee could bring in, so I have the luxury of making those decisions freely; at the moment; she’s a fulltime house-slave, and we’re both quite happy that way. And if I decide to buy a house and can’t quite swing it on my own salary, I know I always have an extra source of income available whenever I need it. Life is good.

-Gabriel

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kaylee came into her owner’s household over a year ago. Some of the adjustments to everyday living she was prepared for, others she did not expect. The most difficult challenge was learning to live without property. She was terrified to hand over her safety net, the one thing she had always kept separate, locked away for her future. She was frightened of the vulnerability that such a situation might bring.

It was the little things, such as having no "mad money" to spend when she wanted to shop, not being able to pick up the latest magazine while she was in line at the grocery, or having to beg to explain why she desparately wanted the things she once took for granted. Sometimes, she wishes he would understand why buying something on sale is such a wonderful thing, and why she as a woman feels obligated to take advantage of such savings.

Certain instances have impressed the depth of her slavery on her within the past months. She is no longer working in the career field she was when she first met her owner, since it is notorious for burn out at a young age. Master chose not to have her working the long unpredictable hours necessary for success in that field, and so she is starting a career again. It opened her eyes to have that choice removed from her, and yet she found peace in that.

She no longer has money of her own. She is accountable for every purchase she makes on behalf of the household, since her owner is not one for grocery shopping. She has learned a discipline that she never had before to try to find ways to manage a household budget, and lower unnecessary bills. When she goes to a new job, and fills out the paperwork, knowing she must ask permission before setting up any stock option programs, 401k programs, or directing the company to deposit her paycheck into his bank account, she will be reminded of her slavery yet again.

Compared to some modern women, it must seem that she is deprived. But she has never felt so rich inside.

-kaylee{G}

Gabriel and kaylee write a monthly column about issues pertaining to the lifestyles of Goreans on Earth. Questions, comments, and suggestions or requests for topics can be addressed to Gabriel@gor-on-earth.com