Domestic labor

Earlier in the semester we talked about how a woman's duty exists primarily in the home (and that is viewed as less valuable than a man's wage-earning occupation outside of the home). Therefore, when someone else is willing (perhaps even desperate) to do the job that society already deems as lower or less valuable than other jobs, society probably deems these people as less valuable to the community. And because they are deemed as lower in society, other people (i.e. their employers) are more likely to mistreat them or not respect them. However, there are exceptions to these cases where their employer accepts them as a part of their family. But although this sounds noble and kind, people often forget that the domestic laborer has family of their own and being assimilated into the employer's family is probably not their primary concern. Thus, it is a sticky situation because in a capitalist society, people always have wage-earning occupations for the most basic chores, tasks, and jobs. But human desires and priorities (like being with and supporting one's family) are frequently disregarded in order for the domestic labor force to persist for the domestic laborer still needs to earn a living.