4 ms·

You can go to India and see exactly this. Even many middle income families have cleaning maids, drivers, etc also known as "servants". The job of "servant" no l

You can go to India and see exactly this. Even many middle income families have cleaning maids, drivers, etc also known as "servants". The job of "servant" no longer exists in the west.

ghaff 6y ago
>The job of "servant" no longer exists in the west. It's something of a matter of terminology. That would be seen as a generally inappropriate term in the US. Although people do have au pairs/nannies. And they certainly have plenty of regular service people like lawn services who they share with others. Or personal assistants. But, yes, the relationship is generally different. And there's far less of it.
- srtjstjsj 6y ago
  A 1hour/week service is not a servant. A full-time person is. and a single servant that enables a second working parent is a rather minor example, showing specialization more than income inequality.
NikolaeVarius 6y ago
I don't believe you. Cleaning Maids are just called "Cleaning Services"
- nwatson 6y ago
  The "Cleaning Services" people in the U.S. and I suspect Europe are either independent contractors or wage workers for an independent contractor. They don't do 8-plus hour shifts in your home, or even live in your own home in "servants' quarters" as is common in places like India, Brazil, etc. In a "servant" relationship involving close physical proximity the servant almost is obliged to care for the emotional well-being of those whom they serve, or to at least feign that care. The contractor on the other hand is doing a job at your home in one of many such places and aren't expected to service the customer's emotional needs except as social nicety, and conceivably are raking in more cash per unit-time worked (for independents especially) than those who hire them. The "Cleaning Services" aren't servants. edit: emotional "connection", relative wages
  - ozim 6y ago
    I would describe it from another perspective. Servant living in someones quarters is dependent on his employer. Such person probably does not have enough freedom to change employer. Contractor on the other hand should be able to refuse to work for someone if he does not like it and find another customer. So it should be more of a partnership relation. In reality of course it is not so clear cut, but personal freedom element is more important for me than "emotional well-being" or "social nicety". Especially because I would expect "social nicety" from any contractor I hire and if I would have to deal with obnoxious contractor I would not hire them again. But of course I would not expect them to know my children names.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- rasz 6y ago
  In Asia/Middle East they are simply slaves https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50228549 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50228549 "Slave market Nine out of 10 Kuwaiti homes have a domestic worker - they come from some of the poorest parts of the world to the Gulf, aiming to make enough money to support their family at home. The sellers almost all advocated confiscating the women's passports, confining them to the house, denying them any time off and giving them little or no access to a phone. The 4Sale app allowed you to filter by race, with different price brackets clearly on offer, according to category. "African worker, clean and smiley," said one listing. Another: "Nepalese who dares to ask for a day off." "

You can go to India and see exactly this. Even many middle income families have cleaning maids, drivers, etc also known as "servants". The job of "servant" no longer exists in the west.

ghaff 6y ago

>The job of "servant" no longer exists in the west. It's something of a matter of terminology. That would be seen as a generally inappropriate term in the US. Although people do have au pairs/nannies. And they certainly have plenty of regular service people like lawn services who they share with others. Or personal assistants. But, yes, the relationship is generally different. And there's far less of it.

srtjstjsj 6y ago
A 1hour/week service is not a servant. A full-time person is. and a single servant that enables a second working parent is a rather minor example, showing specialization more than income inequality.

NikolaeVarius 6y ago

I don't believe you. Cleaning Maids are just called "Cleaning Services"

nwatson 6y ago
The "Cleaning Services" people in the U.S. and I suspect Europe are either independent contractors or wage workers for an independent contractor. They don't do 8-plus hour shifts in your home, or even live in your own home in "servants' quarters" as is common in places like India, Brazil, etc. In a "servant" relationship involving close physical proximity the servant almost is obliged to care for the emotional well-being of those whom they serve, or to at least feign that care. The contractor on the other hand is doing a job at your home in one of many such places and aren't expected to service the customer's emotional needs except as social nicety, and conceivably are raking in more cash per unit-time worked (for independents especially) than those who hire them. The "Cleaning Services" aren't servants. edit: emotional "connection", relative wages
- ozim 6y ago
  I would describe it from another perspective. Servant living in someones quarters is dependent on his employer. Such person probably does not have enough freedom to change employer. Contractor on the other hand should be able to refuse to work for someone if he does not like it and find another customer. So it should be more of a partnership relation. In reality of course it is not so clear cut, but personal freedom element is more important for me than "emotional well-being" or "social nicety". Especially because I would expect "social nicety" from any contractor I hire and if I would have to deal with obnoxious contractor I would not hire them again. But of course I would not expect them to know my children names.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
rasz 6y ago
In Asia/Middle East they are simply slaves https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50228549 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50228549 "Slave market Nine out of 10 Kuwaiti homes have a domestic worker - they come from some of the poorest parts of the world to the Gulf, aiming to make enough money to support their family at home. The sellers almost all advocated confiscating the women's passports, confining them to the house, denying them any time off and giving them little or no access to a phone. The 4Sale app allowed you to filter by race, with different price brackets clearly on offer, according to category. "African worker, clean and smiley," said one listing. Another: "Nepalese who dares to ask for a day off." "