Abstract

This paper answers some salient questions about poverty and child domestic work (CDW) and discusses other reasons for working in domestic service beyond absolute deprivation. Drawing from findings from an ethnographic study, I argue that working in domestic service remains a viable option for many households in a society without a functioning social welfare system. While the focus on harm has dominated discussions on and campaigns against CDW, it has not significantly reduced its prevalence. From the standpoint of child domestic workers and/or their families, the consideration of certain benefits underlies their involvement in this type of work. I argue for the need to retell stories about child domestic work in ways that recognise the complexities involved in the arrangements without denying its exploitative tendencies.

摘要

本文回答了一些关于贫困和儿童家政 (CDW) 的突出问题，并讨论了在绝对贫困之外从事家政服务的其他原因。根据人种学研究的结果，我认为在社会福利制度不健全的社会中，从事家政服务对于许多家庭来说仍然是一个可行的选择。虽然对伤害的关注主导了反对 CDW 的讨论和运动，但它并没有显着降低其流行率。从家庭佣工和/或其家庭的角度来看，某些福利的考虑是他们参与此类工作的基础。我主张有必要以承认安排所涉及的复杂性的方式重述有关儿童家务劳动的故事，同时又不否认其剥削倾向。