Book contents
- Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
- New Studies in European History
- Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Prologue
- Part I Servants into Workers, 1920s
- Part II In the Land of Victorious Socialism, 1930s–1950s
- Part II Introduction
- Chapter 5 The Turn to Production
- Chapter 6 Serving in a Socialist Home
- Chapter 7 Like One of the Family
- Chapter 8 The Meanings of Privilege
- Part II Conclusion
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
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
- Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
- New Studies in European History
- Domestic Service in the Soviet Union
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Prologue
- Part I Servants into Workers, 1920s
- Part II In the Land of Victorious Socialism, 1930s–1950s
- Part II Introduction
- Chapter 5 The Turn to Production
- Chapter 6 Serving in a Socialist Home
- Chapter 7 Like One of the Family
- Chapter 8 The Meanings of Privilege
- Part II Conclusion
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
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.
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- Information
- Domestic Service in the Soviet UnionWomen's Emancipation and the Gendered Hierarchy of Labor, pp. 210 - 240Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024