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Chapter 7 - Like One of the Family

Domestic Service as a Site of Intimate Negotiations

from Part II Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2024

Alissa Klots
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
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Summary

Transition to socialism meant that the relationships between domestic workers and their employers had to be reimagined. Rather than framing the relationship between domestic workers and their employers as a contractual one, the state now celebrated employers and domestics who treated each other “like family.” The economic nature of the relationship between Soviet families and their domestics puts into sharp relief the meaning of Stalinist socialism for domestic workers and their employers. Similar to capitalist countries, class inequality lay at the heart of domestic service in the Soviet Union. Yet, this inequality was less stark and more fragile. As a result, domestic workers were able to negotiate special bonuses, such as extended vacation time to visit families. However, in return domestic workers had to give up labor rights guaranteed by Soviet laws, such as days off or regular pay. The chapter demonstrates the limits of legal regulations within the household and the role of informal arrangements in domestic service.

Type
Chapter
Information
Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
Women's Emancipation and the Gendered Hierarchy of Labor
, pp. 210 - 240
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Like One of the Family
  • Alissa Klots, University of Pittsburgh
  • Book: Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
  • Online publication: 25 April 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009467193.014
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  • Like One of the Family
  • Alissa Klots, University of Pittsburgh
  • Book: Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
  • Online publication: 25 April 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009467193.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Like One of the Family
  • Alissa Klots, University of Pittsburgh
  • Book: Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
  • Online publication: 25 April 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009467193.014
Available formats
×