Women's Work

In the article, Women’s Work, the author writes to give a voice to domestic workers. He or she does this with the use of great factual components intertwined with the emotional fortitude that is needed to prove the point of the unrepresented population of domestic workers.

Factually, this article brings to light many benefits domestic workers do not have due to their type of employment. The government does not provide them with the “right to unionize under federal or state law, laws on job discrimination and occupational safety do not apply to them, and they cannot take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act.”

The author also used the first hand experience of Herminia Serrat and Araceli Herrera to paint a picture of the dismal occupation that domestic workers sometimes find themselves in. She notes many workers so often find themselves social isolation and sometimes emotionally, physically, and sexually assaulted.

Although the author’s focus is on the state of New York’s Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, if the bill being debated passes it potentially could lead to positive changes throughout the country. The passage of a somewhat unprecedented bill can have such a monumental impact on so many current and future domestic workers if taken to the national level. However, I believe it will be an uphill battle to get such a bill passed at the national level, the main point of reasoning being who the domestic workers are. They are immigrants, undocumented workers, low income citizens, the ‘bottom tier of American society.” [[As many Americans view them]] It is sad that in today’s ‘self giving’ and ‘altruistic’ society, money still outweighs the dignity, physical and emotional health, and overall way of life for those without the voice to demand what they as citizens deserve.

With the author’s obvious knowledgeable background and passion for the subject, it is believable that the editorial is highly credible and will hopefully spark a wide spread response for a demand for equality for domestic workers.

Additional information on domestic workers can be found at Domestic Workers United.