Domestic Labor Quote by Anonymous
““research suggests that in areas near the U.S.-Mexico border, only one-tenth of paid domestic labor is on the books. The BLS puts the yearly average housekeeping wage at $19,570, which is both below the poverty line for a family of three and no doubt inflated by underreporting. Domestic workers without immigration papers not only lack the so-called protection of the law; they’re constantly vulnerable to deportation. So much for Lyotard’s “doing away with all privileges of place.” As Evan Calder Williams writes, “the days and bodies of humans are still far cheaper than any automation, provided money knows where to look. And it always has.” White supremacy and the gender division aren’t archaisms that capital will puree into a flow of neutered beige singularities; they’re labor relations, and integral ones.””
About This Quote
Source article: Labor and Borders, 2023
The quote highlights how undocumented domestic workers face exploitation, low wages, and legal vulnerability, reflecting broader systemic inequities.
In simple terms: Undocumented workers are exploited and unprotected.
Advocate for fair labor rights.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- home cleaning services
- immigration reform
- advocacy campaigns
- academic research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could protect these workers?
- How can individuals support ethical labor practices?
Solutions require political will and public awareness.