Do You Think It's Morally Right To Have A Maid?
By pinokkio
@pinokkio (352)
Bahrain
April 14, 2007 4:05am CST
I know that maids these days are just workers like everyone else, getting paid for what they do.
However, there was a time when people had slaves and they didn't pay them anything cause they were slaves. Most of these jobs that were done by female slaves who lived inside the house are being done today by maids.
Do you think it's normal to have someone who takes care of your house, makes your food and bed, wash the dishes and maybe even take care of your children? Shouldn't these things be done by the family members themselves rather than depend on someonelse to do it for them?
3 responses
@repzkoopz (1895)
• Philippines
14 Apr 07
its ok to have maids. or better yet, lets call them househelps. they help us with our chores. some actually consider it a job. but to some employers, they consider their househelps part of their family. they extend their arms to their househelps, as if they're relatives. it all depends on the employer how they treat their helpers. c',)
1 person likes this
@lifetalk (679)
• Pakistan
14 Apr 07
Well, in my opinion, it's not wrong, as long as you dont ENTIRELY depend on the maid. What i mean by this is that you should be independant, so incase if the maid leaves, or takes a break someday, you are capable of doing all of this and not leave your house a mess! THat's the difference you see. You can have them, as long as you are paying them the appropriate amount for the work they do, but instead of relying on them, try doing things yourself at times. SO, you could like, hire them, to work on alternate days. That way you get to do things too, and so, kind of makes you independant incase of any mishaps (God forbid!) :)
1 person likes this
@pinokkio (352)
• Bahrain
14 Apr 07
But wouldn't it be hard to still rely on yourself when everything is being taken care of?
Suppose your maid rarely takes holidays. Maybe you pay her extra if she works on the holidays so she doesn't mind the extra work. Then after a long long time, she suddenly takes a break. Wouldn't it be hard to rely on yourself after depending so much on her?
@gbolly54 (661)
• Nigeria
14 Apr 07
Some people really use their maids like slaves, working them like a donkey and paying them a peanut. To this extent, your concern about maids is not unnecessary. However, maids are supposed to be like any other worker, to be subject to normal work ethics and conditions. If a maid allows himself/herself to be used like a slave, that is his/her own choice, or is as a result of the prevailing forces of supply and demand. In my country, housemaids used to be like slaves in terms of the workload, living conditions, pay and the like. That was then. With their short supply now that government is clamping down on child trafficking, child labour, child abuse, and at the same time making attendance at school compulsory for certain ages, housemaids have become gold. The few available ones now dictate their terms, which are ridiculously tilted against their masters. They have now become kings. The forces of supply and demand affect the working condition and pay of all workers, not maids alone. In some other industries, too, we have 'slaves', who are poorly remunerated and abusively used simply because their supply exceeds demand. The way women are embracing careers nowadays, the need for maids will keep increasing. In the face of dwindling supply of maids, this grade of work will turn into a respected and highly paying profession, dominated by well educated and qualified practitioners. We are already inching towards that now.
