<p>Interesting reading.
<p>I want to talk about how disturbed I was when I was reading the "The bureaucratization of housecleaning" section. When Mignon was describing how the maids that belong to a cleaning organization must follow all of the rules placed by both the organization and the employers, I was shocked. I am a house keeper at a private home and I can't imagine what it would be like having to work under all of those conditions. These workers sound like robots that are controlled by their managers and clients. Also, it was disturbing to hear how the managers manipulate their workers by bringing them "doughnuts to the office in the morning and throwing birthday parties for them and explicitly [stating] that being part of the family is more important to them [workers] than higher pay or benefits" (121).
Also on this section, Mignon writes "many clients chose corporate cleaning services and particularly request the workers come when they are not home to avoid being face to face with the uncomfortable reality of inequality" (121). I am unsure if Mignon means the economic inquality between employer and employee or the occupational inequality between them based on the segregation of race and gender that Mignon writes about. This segregation and hierchy is what Mignon writes about in this chapter and it is the segregation that is usually acknowledged by the workers and by most of the general public, and this quote makes me wonder what the employers think about this. They too must also acknowledge it and maybe some are ashamed because in a way, by hiring maids and care-workers, they are contributing to society's stereotypes, as well as strengthing the racial and economic hierchy.
In my experience, whenever I go to work and my employers are there, they usually tell me they will be leaving soon and that they will get out of my way. After reading this line, I wonder if they are as uncomfortable as I am when they are present?
Raquel, responding to your doubt about facing the unconfortable situation of inequality, I am pretty sure that Duffy does not only refer to an economic inequality but social class inequality too. These clients are completely aware that they are not necessarily contributing to society's stereotypes, as you say, but proving with this fact that racism is still around and whether we want to admit it or not, people discriminate ethnic groups that are different from theirs and so the feeling of guilt makes it all an awkward situation for the clients and even the employers.
ReplyDeleteRaquel- this is a great post! And thank you for sharing your own work experience to comment on Duffy's chapter. I agree that when Duffy writes about the employers' removing themselves from the home while the person hired to clean works-they escape the "uncomfortable reality of inequality" (121)- she has in mind the "the occupational inequality between them based on the segregation of race and gender". And as Frances adds, another dimension of the inequality is social class.
ReplyDeleteAs you ladies both note, the employers are fully aware of their position of social and economic advantage. How can employers intervene and help bring about change? What should the employers do?
Frances you write "These clients are completely aware that they are not necessarily contributing to society's stereotypes, as you say, but proving with this fact that racism is still around and whether we want to admit it or not, people discriminate ethnic groups that are different from theirs and so the feeling of guilt makes it all an awkward situation for the clients and even the employers"- what do you think the employers (as in the cleaning agencies)and clients do to work against stereotypes?
Raquel, when you ask "I wonder if they are as uncomfortable as I am when they are present?", why is it uncomfortable having the employer stay home while you work?