Are all skies gray? Is all bread soft?The rural woman from Sahagún as a domestic worker in the municipal center

Abstract

The general objective of this article is to characterize the labor dynamics that emerge from the employment of rural women from Sahagún, Córdoba, who perform paid domestic work in the urban center of the same locality. Among the specific objectives, the study firstly seeks to identify the causes that led these rural women to engage in domestic work; secondly, to determine the different modalities of domestic work recognized in their environment; and finally, to assess the knowledge these women possess regarding the labor rights to which they are entitled.

A qualitative methodology was employed for this research, specifically using the technique of feminist ethnography. This technique aimed at conducting non-obstructive observation, prioritizing on the full observation of participants while eliminating hierarchical distinctions between the researcher and the subject of study, thereby avoiding the treatment of the latter merely as a data source. Through these methodological approaches, we explored the life experiences of a group of women from their own perspective and through the lens of their womanhood, detailing the gender dynamics and inequalities they face within their specific context. The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with women from four (4) rural villages of Sahagún, Córdoba, aged between 27 and 53. The selection of participants was based on geographic location criteria, aiming to capture a diversity of experiences and life stories. Furthermore, the women chosen had migrated from their communities driven by the search for paid domestic work in Sahagún’s urban sector. Another tool used in the study was a field diary, used to systematically record observations made during visits to the rural areas. These visits provided insight into both the family and broader community and social contexts of the women studied.

The findings indicate that paid domestic work is closely linked to conditions of poverty and precariousness. It was observed that many rural women enter the paid domestic labor market at very early ages through family or neighborhood networks that normalize this practice as part of the life cycle of rural girls, particularly given the lack of opportunities in their places of origin. Furthermore, this early and sustained entry into domestic work does not translate into substantial improvements in their living conditions, nor does it help break the cycles of poverty in which they were raised.

The results are presented in three stages. The first stage, titled “From the Bahareque House to the Big House,” compiles the early life experiences of the participants, as well as core information that provides context about the socioeconomic conditions that preceded their entry into domestic work. Additionally, the motivations behind their initial employment and migration to the urban sector are also included. Among the reasons expressed by the participants were the lack of access to educational institutions—which led many to live in the homes of families in the municipal center—as well as cases of child abuse and the absence of a father figure, which often resulted in complex economic situations. The second stage focused on identifying the modalities of domestic work, as well as the labor conditions and rights applicable to these women. In this regard, five types of domestic work were categorized, identified by the women based on their personal experiences and those observed in the lives of women close to them. Concerning labor conditions and the full identification of the labor rights that protect them, it was found that the lack of knowledge among domestic workers about their rights—as well as the mechanisms available to safeguard those rights—significantly deepens the precariousness of domestic work. Despite the existence of a legal framework, in towns like Sahagún, the hiring process, salary payment, and provision of social benefits for domestic workers are still handled arbitrarily. At the same time, the effort involved in domestic labor is often rendered invisible and diminished. Labor law provisions seem to fade away as informality prevails as the norm. The final stage, titled “This Life of Mine: The Impact of Domestic Work on Women’s Lives,” depicts the various obstacles these women faced before and during their employment as domestic workers. In this stage, it became clear that for many, domestic work was a gateway to new opportunities and access to services such as healthcare and education, which were difficult to obtain in their communities of origin. On the other hand, some women described these experiences as significant barriers to the development of their life projects, as long working hours, inadequate pay, excessive workloads, and social isolation hindered any real improvement in their quality of life. In many cases, cycles of poverty persisted, and attempts to access education were disrupted by work overload and a lack of time and space for academic activities.

Overall, the conclusions suggest that, from an early age, women from the rural areas of the municipality of Sahagún view domestic service as a pathway to accessing essential public services. However, this early entry creates bonds of gratitude that translate into precarious working conditions, characterized by low wages, task overload, in-kind payments, and the silent acceptance of these conditions—ultimately normalizing a labor relationship that fails to fully recognize the value and effort of their work. Furthermore, it is evident that this form of labor continues to be a space of exploitation, upheld by power relations shaped by gender, class, and place of origin. This highlights the urgent need to recognize these women as subjects of labor rights and to promote the eradication of structural barriers that perpetuate their marginalization. Thus, government support from early and middle childhood to adolescence is essential for the protection and development of girls. Consequently, proactive measures are needed to ensure that domestic work does not become, from an early age, the only pathway available to achieve life goals or escape poverty.