Invisible labour: Perceptions of paid domestic work in London

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Paid domestic employment is increasing in Britain. This is the result of income polarisation and the growth of female employment. In other parts of the world domestic employment has been shown to be of low status and to be denigrated by those involved. Interviews with domestic workers and their employers in London show this to be the case in Britain too. Domestic work is unpopular. Work performed by domestic employees is often invisible or under‐rated. Domestic workers devalue the work they do, perceiving it as non‐work. This is because most household work is done for free by household members. Reproductive work has long been seen as naturally wormen's work. It becomes invisible when women perform household tasks as a paid occupation.