Squeaker's Mate

"Squeaker's Mate" is a short story by Australian author Barbara Baynton, first published in her 1902 collection Bush Studies. The story depicts the life of a woman known only as "Squeaker's mate," who works on an isolated bush selection while her husband "Squeaker" contributes little labour.

"Squeaker's Mate" is the second story in Bush Studies, following "A Dreamer".

Plot Summary

A woman lives with Squeaker on an isolated bush selection. She performs the majority of the physical labour (clearing land, building fences, tending crops and animals, maintaining the home) while Squeaker contributes minimal work. Neighbours assume Squeaker is the industrious settler.

The woman works tirelessly despite the harsh conditions. Early in the story, a tree falls on her, crushing her back and leaving her permanently paralyzed. Squeaker shows little concern for her suffering. The property, which she built through her labour and her own money, legally belongs to Squeaker. She has no ownership or legal claim.

Eventually, unable to work and now a burden to Squeaker, a younger woman appears and Squeaker transfers his attention to her. The new woman takes over the first woman's labour and position.

The story ends with the paralyzed woman watching her replacement perform the work she can no longer do.

Themes

The story examines domestic labour and the legal status of women in bush settlements. The woman's work receives no legal recognition or compensation, as the property remains in Squeaker's name despite her labour building it up.

The woman is never named, only referred to as "Squeaker's mate," emphasising her lack of independent legal identity. Her namelessness also suggests she represents a broader pattern rather than a single individual case.

Historical Context

The story reflects the legal status of married women in late nineteenth-century Australia. While some colonies passed Married Women's Property Acts in the 1880s and 1890s, women's property rights remained limited, particularly in rural areas. Women's labour in building up bush selections typically gave them no legal claim to the property.

Reception

When Bush Studies appeared in 1902, some critics found the collection too dark in its portrayal of bush life. Like Baynton's other work, "Squeaker's Mate" was rediscovered and championed by feminist scholars beginning in the 1960s, with major critical reevaluation occurring in the 1970s and 1980s.

Bush Studies Collection

"Squeaker's Mate" appears in Bush Studies alongside other stories including "The Chosen Vessel". The collection presents a darker perspective on bush life than that offered by many of Baynton's male contemporaries, focusing on the experiences of women in isolated settings.