To view prices and purchase online, please login or create an account now.



Friend or Flunkey? Paid Domestic Workers in the New Economy

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Friend or Flunkey? Paid Domestic Workers in the New Economy
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Gabrielle Meagher
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:224
Dimensions(mm): Height 235,Width 155
Category/GenreLabour economics
ISBN/Barcode 9780868407487
ClassificationsDewey:338.47640460994
Audience
Professional & Vocational

Publishing Details

Publisher UNSW Press
Imprint UNSW Press
Publication Date 1 March 2003
Publication Country Australia

Description

Friend or Flunkey? Takes a close look at the working lives and attitudes of domestic workers in modern Australia. The book examines a great diversity of experiences in the domestic services industry, mainly through interviews with many participants, both employers and employed. In doing so it: Exposes the alleged exponential growth of paid domestic work in modern Australia as something of an urban myth; Considers the classic contemporary middle-class ethical dilemmas on whether it is 'wrong' to pay for domestic help; Considers the many reasons why women (and it remains mainly women) undertake paid domestic work; Asks if Australia has a growing 'servant' class; Looks at the development of specialist domestic cleaning companies; Friend of Flunkey will be of keen interest to anyone interested in the future of work, seeing the domestic services industry from the workers point of view, the ethics of the market, and economic sociology in action.

Author Biography

Gabrielle Meagher is a lecturer in Political Economy at the University of Sydney. She has previously worked as a domestic cleaner, shop assistant, and receptionist.