"Como se fosse da família": a realidade do emprego doméstico em João Pessoa

Abstract

The research aims to analyze the reality of domestic employment in João Pessoa from the perspective of the sexual division of labor. It aims to understand the labor and sociological aspects of domestic workers, including double shifts and the role of caregiving in their families and in the homes where they work. It also highlights the devaluation, precariousness, and invisibility of domestic work in Brazil. Domestic work in Brazil is rooted in the country's history, and understanding this employment relationship allows us to understand some nuances of gender inequality in the labor market, given that domestic employment has its origins in slavery and fosters the sexual division of labor, including a racial bias. Women have limited space in the labor market and are often assigned to domestic work, whether paid or unpaid. Caregiving, more prevalent in the post-pandemic period, reinforces gender stereotypes. Domestic employment is only possible in societies where profound social inequality exists. Thus, the average family income of the middle classes must necessarily be much higher than the average income of domestic workers for it to be possible or reasonable to hire someone for such tasks. It turns out that in societies with greater equity in income distribution, domestic work is more highly valued, hence the discussion of domestic workers and their unviability. Given these approaches, the research question is: What are the lasting marks of slavery that resonate in domestic work for Black women? What is the impact of the sexual division of labor on the lives of domestic workers? What are the working conditions of domestic workers? To answer these questions, a qualitative and quantitative study was conducted, accompanied by a literature review and field research, duly approved by the ethics committee. This study is characterized by a mixed-method research approach. The data collection instrument chosen was semi-structured interviews. For data analysis and interpretation, thematic categorical content analysis was chosen as one of the methods of data processing. The initial interviews conducted already demonstrate a direct relationship between gender, race, education, the subordination of women and domestic work as the only option for subsistence.