The disadvantages domestic workers face and their dilemmas

In Vietnam, domestic work is considered one of the lowest status and low pay field. Because domestic jobs such as cleaning, washing, and child-rearing are originally unpaid works that could be done within the immediate family, they are seen as having low market value. Since these works are not valued by the society, it seems fair to impose low pay and social status to domestic workers. There is also a vicious circle of domestic work being perceived as demeaning and of little value because women do it, and women do it because it is considered demeaning and of low value. What people often do not realize is the fact that domestic work is necessary for the production surplus value. Not only does domestic work provide services to meet the daily needs of the employers for them to fulfill other jobs in the society, nurturing and educating children also produce the next generation of workers. Hence, although the capitalist division of labor relies on these tasks being done, domestic workers do not gain “value” in the sense of wage that can be recognized, valued, and quantified by the public like the other professions.

Moreover, we often do not think of the kind of sacrifices domestic workers face in order to fulfill their jobs. Back home in Vietnam, my family has three domestic workers working for us. We see them as part of our family, and they enjoy working for us. However, being a full-time domestic workers means spending most of their life at the client’s home; they all have to leave their families behind. Although they love taking care of my younger brother and love him as if he was their son, they cannot hide their sadness when they think about all the things that they did for my brother that they could have done for their children and nephews. When they take care of my grandparents, they cannot help but feel guilty when they cannot do the same thing for their parents or be there when their families need them. And although they are supporting their families through monetary means, they are unable to support them emotionally and complete their duties towards them. On one hand they face the constraints of being domestic workers. On the other hand, they cannot perform the duties to their families as women because they are busy performing them at someone else’s home. Hence, not only do female domestic workers struggle because of their lack of value in the marketplace, they also struggle with their emotional dilemmas.