Although statistics point to domestic work as one of the primary sources of employment for women in Latin America, little attention has been paid to this important labor sector. This volume, the first of its kind, illustrates the important economic and social roles of Latin America’s domestic workers and provides a deeper perspective on how these women have begun to struggle for the recognition and legal protections afforded other workers. The 22 essays bring together thorough academic research on domestic workers from broad geographic and thematic perspectives, and workers’ firsthand experiences. This combination allows for the examination of a wide range of topics, including the historical context for domestic service in Latin America, worker-employer relations, current legal protections for domestic workers’ unions within the larger trade union context, the effects of stereotypes, and feminist questions.
From a historical viewpoint, Muchachas No More provides solidly grounded research that describes clearly and eloquently the evolution of the social status assigned to domestic workers, the influence of the colonial patriarchal household as the central unit of social control, and the importance of domestic work in today’s society as more women enter the labor force. The personal voyages of the women portrayed in the essays aptly describe the difficulties domestic workers face as they challenge the systematic structures of economic and psychological abuse by employers and the society. These accounts also raise crucial questions about efforts for advocacy. The book places the women’s testimonies in the larger context of household workers’ organizing efforts and struggles for state recognition. Several feminist authors provide theoretical approaches to understanding the complex dynamics of worker-employer relations and the tensions between domestic workers and feminists.
The essays are supplemented by posters and pamphlets, illustrating the tools used by household workers to advocate change. Another major contribution of the book is the extensive bibliography provided by Margo L. Smith, which is undoubtedly the most complete collection to date of books, articles, and essays on domestic service in Latin America and the Caribbean. This book is essential for those interested in women in Latin America, social change, and the informal economy.
