Indian Journal of Economics and Development

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An Inter-Linkage Between Women Employers and Female Domestic Workers


Affiliations
1 Department of Economics, Women's College, Calcutta, Kolkata-700 003, India
2 Department of Economics, University of Burdwan, Burdwan- 713104, India
 

Objectives: To assess the significance of paid domestic work as an important income earning activity for poor households and to explore the linkage between women employers and female domestic workers.

Methods/Analysis: The study was conducted on 334 domestic workers and 154 employers between January and June 2016 in the district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The employers were classified into working (104) and non-working (50). The selection of the district was spurred by the development of south Kolkata on the one hand and the significant role of manual labour in the process of urbanisation on the other. While studying the labour supply determinants, wage was taken as a dependent variable for the linear regression analysis to capture the factors responsible for the choice of decision. Based on their need for domestic workers, a comprehensive distinction was made between the working and non-working employers.

Findings: With growing urbanization and economic growth, life has become more challenging giving much impetus to education and employment of women. This has led many women to join work-force. The breakup of the traditional joint family system and increased involvement of educated women in the formal labour market necessitates organising all work inside the home through domestic workers. Disadvantaged females do domestic work in the middle-class and upper-middle-class households in urban and suburban areas, releasing employers to join work. The study reveals that insecurity of work and unstable income of the household head is an important reason for the choice of domestic work apart from other determinants like illiteracy and lack of skill. On the demand side, we see that distinct strategies are adopted by distinct households. A segment of the employers is guided by reliance while others hire domestic workers because they are used to domestic assistance, or it has something to do with status and peer pressure.

Novelty/Improvement: We believe that this study will provide better insights on determining factors that contribute to the linkage between the ‘Mistress’ and the ‘Maid’.


Keywords

Domestic Work, Socio-Economic Status, Women Empowerment, Linkage, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal.
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  • An Inter-Linkage Between Women Employers and Female Domestic Workers

Abstract Views: 205  |  PDF Views: 110

Authors

Sanghita Bhattacharjee
Department of Economics, Women's College, Calcutta, Kolkata-700 003, India
Bhaskar Goswami
Department of Economics, University of Burdwan, Burdwan- 713104, India

Abstract


Objectives: To assess the significance of paid domestic work as an important income earning activity for poor households and to explore the linkage between women employers and female domestic workers.

Methods/Analysis: The study was conducted on 334 domestic workers and 154 employers between January and June 2016 in the district of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The employers were classified into working (104) and non-working (50). The selection of the district was spurred by the development of south Kolkata on the one hand and the significant role of manual labour in the process of urbanisation on the other. While studying the labour supply determinants, wage was taken as a dependent variable for the linear regression analysis to capture the factors responsible for the choice of decision. Based on their need for domestic workers, a comprehensive distinction was made between the working and non-working employers.

Findings: With growing urbanization and economic growth, life has become more challenging giving much impetus to education and employment of women. This has led many women to join work-force. The breakup of the traditional joint family system and increased involvement of educated women in the formal labour market necessitates organising all work inside the home through domestic workers. Disadvantaged females do domestic work in the middle-class and upper-middle-class households in urban and suburban areas, releasing employers to join work. The study reveals that insecurity of work and unstable income of the household head is an important reason for the choice of domestic work apart from other determinants like illiteracy and lack of skill. On the demand side, we see that distinct strategies are adopted by distinct households. A segment of the employers is guided by reliance while others hire domestic workers because they are used to domestic assistance, or it has something to do with status and peer pressure.

Novelty/Improvement: We believe that this study will provide better insights on determining factors that contribute to the linkage between the ‘Mistress’ and the ‘Maid’.


Keywords


Domestic Work, Socio-Economic Status, Women Empowerment, Linkage, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

References