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Madams and maids in Southern Africa: coping with uncertainties, and the art of mutual zombification
[journal article]
Abstract Drawing largely on a just completed empirical study this paper argues that like elsewhere in Africa & the world, maids in South Africa & Botswana, notably migrant maids from Zimbabwe, are subjected to the vicissitudes of ultra-exploitation. They, like their employers are all concerned with the uncer... view more
Drawing largely on a just completed empirical study this paper argues that like elsewhere in Africa & the world, maids in South Africa & Botswana, notably migrant maids from Zimbabwe, are subjected to the vicissitudes of ultra-exploitation. They, like their employers are all concerned with the uncertainties that plague their lives. Although employers are assumed to be in positions of power, their reality is often more nuanced & prone to constant negotiations with & concessions to maids. At one level, their own preoccupation with avoiding uncertainties by maintaining whatever advantages they can cultivate implies that vis-a-vis their maids, the employers cannot always afford to enjoy the benefits of being in control. Structural inequalities notwithstanding, mutual zombification seems to be the order of the day between maids & madams.... view less
Keywords
migrant; girl; employer; woman; working conditions; social relations; Botswana; domestic; Southern Africa
Classification
Women's Studies, Feminist Studies, Gender Studies
Migration, Sociology of Migration
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
South Africa; Domestics; Work Environment; Females; Employers; Migrants
Document language
English
Publication Year
2005
Page/Pages
p. 181-196
Journal
Afrika Spectrum, 40 (2005) 2
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works