Reading through the article in our text by Mary Romero that speaks to domestic service struck a chord with me. The idea that along with the feminist movement and more involvement outside the home for women, what happened was not asking your male counterpart in the relationship to share in the household responsibilities, but instead, pushing the duties off onto another woman. And then, adding injury to insult, these women receive low wages, no overtime, no vacation, no sick pay, no health care plan. As the text states, “Paid housework that is structured to replicate the unpaid domestic work of the housewife includes practices affirming women’s inferiority.” This article by Ms. Romero was written in 1992 and, while I am hopeful that positive changes have taken place, there is still injustice occurring.
See this link to an article on NYDailyNews.com: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/04/08/2009-04-08_give_nannies_and_housekeepers_the_rights-2.html?page=1
Today it is more likely that both partners in a relationship work outside the home (either by choice or need) and there also seems to be more shared responsibility within relationships. Job responsibilities are changing as well. Many people actually work from home, which allows more flexibility for shared domestic duties. Having said this, it is obvious that there is still a need/desire for domestic service, I hope that the days of white uniforms, cleaning floors on hands and knees, and gift giving in lieu of higher wages and benefits is a thing of the past. These employees definitely deserve dignity and fair labor standards equal to those of any other industry.
In looking around for information on fair labor standards for the domestic service industry, there truly is very little out there. The following is a link to Domestic Workers United, an organization of Caribbean, Latina and African nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York, organizing for power, respect, fair labor standards and to help build a movement to end exploitation and oppression for all.
i always love reading your blog posts! they are always so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that more and more families are sharing duties these days also. I came from a family where my dad made all the money and my mom stayed home to take care of me. I hope to break this cycle!
Thank you for sharing. This is a reminder that if we are to pursue equality then it must be evident in all areas of society, or else the inequality is only taking on a different form.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I just read the NY Times article on Domestic Workers United. What a crazy story and incredible examples that left me shocked that that industry of workers are being so underprivileged and abused. Thank you for sharing this. I am always amazed in this class on the things I am being taught each day through class discussions and blogs.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is another example of that.