From Servitude to Service:From Servitude to Service:Historical continuities in Historical continuities in

the Racial Division of Paid the Racial Division of Paid Reproductive LaborReproductive Labor

Facilitated by:Facilitated by:

Erica Cochran Erica Cochran

What is the author trying What is the author trying to argue?to argue?

Women tend to be discussed in Women tend to be discussed in comparison to men, not women amongst comparison to men, not women amongst womenwomen

In this article specifically women with In this article specifically women with power over women with outpower over women with out

Racial inequalities even exist between Racial inequalities even exist between the minority races.the minority races.

How does the author How does the author explain the argument?explain the argument?

Through a historical look at Through a historical look at bothboth women women in the workforce and racial segregation of in the workforce and racial segregation of the jobs within the workforce the jobs within the workforce

Segregation of jobs according to race Segregation of jobs according to race and geographical location; and geographical location;

South (African Americans), South (African Americans), West (Asians)West (Asians) South west (Mexicans/Chicanas)South west (Mexicans/Chicanas)

The labor for some races was harder than The labor for some races was harder than the labor for other races. the labor for other races.

Very contradictory because Very contradictory because women'swomen's work work was dirty work but “white women” were was dirty work but “white women” were excluded from doing it.excluded from doing it.

““White women” were expected to be social White women” were expected to be social and proper. and proper.

Domestics were expected to be maternal to Domestics were expected to be maternal to there employers childrenthere employers children

They were not seen as mothers to their They were not seen as mothers to their own children. own children.

Contradictory truths… Contradictory truths…

Who is the norm in this Who is the norm in this article? article?

Middle class white womenMiddle class white women

Strengths of the article…Strengths of the article…

Tracing how race and gender have been Tracing how race and gender have been fashioned in one area of women’s work fashioned in one area of women’s work helps us understand them as socially helps us understand them as socially constructed constructed

By understanding that they are By understanding that they are interlocking and socially constructed interlocking and socially constructed helps strategize for changehelps strategize for change

If race and gender are socially If race and gender are socially constructed then they must arise at specific constructed then they must arise at specific moments in a particular circumstance and moments in a particular circumstance and change as these circumstances change … change as these circumstances change …

Do they in this article? Do they in this article?

Two fundamental elements Two fundamental elements in the construction of racial in the construction of racial

and ethnic womanhoodand ethnic womanhood Inherent traits that Inherent traits that

suited women for suited women for service service

African American African American women: Domesticswomen: Domestics

Mexicans/Chicanas: Mexicans/Chicanas: Laundresses Laundresses

Asians: Servants based Asians: Servants based on who their husband or on who their husband or father worked for.father worked for.

The denial of The denial of women's identities as women's identities as wives and mothers wives and mothers

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the article…article…

Is there a solution?Is there a solution? Are white women supporters because of Are white women supporters because of

short term interestshort term interest Gains of one group are still the priorities Gains of one group are still the priorities

because of gains of another group because of gains of another group require a corresponding loss of require a corresponding loss of advantage and privilege for othersadvantage and privilege for others

In other words…In other words…

What is more important? What is more important? The success of women as a collective The success of women as a collective

group…group… Status of women as a collective group…Status of women as a collective group… or individual success of one race as the or individual success of one race as the

dominant group…dominant group…

It’s a very problematic questionIt’s a very problematic question

Diversity Training ManualDiversity Training Manual

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