The Commodification of Domestic Labor

When I first read the title of this article, I wasn't quite sure what it would be about. After reading it, it was interesting to find out it was referring to jobs such as maids and nannys. I was not raised with a maid or a nanny. A lot of my friends were however used to having a maid. In the article it discussed that many women nowadays are working 40 hour work weeks and they are either ttoo tired or have more work to do once they get home, and they are unable to cook and clean. The solution to this problem wasto hire a maid. Some households would hire someone to simply help out once a week, once a month or several times a month. Other household who hvae extra rooms and money, hire a live in maid who does daily cleaning and taking of some foods. In other situations, families would look for someone to care for their child in the home and do minimal cleaning and food preparation. That type of job is considered as a nanny or Au Paire. For me, I enjoy cleaning and cooking; however, it would be relaxing to know I didn't have to come home to a dirty house. I know that some people enjoy and are fortunate enough to have money for a maid, but there is also the side of, is this a good job? This type of position is nomally filled by a woman, and usually from another country. The work can be hard and tedious with little pay, but I do know families who pay extremely well for the services they provide.