The history of domestic work in the United Sates has been accounted for more than two-thirds of all non-agricultural female wage earner in the second half of the nineteenth century

The history of domestic work in the United Sates has been accounted for more than two-thirds of all non-agricultural female wage earner in the second half of the nineteenth century. In the early stages of development, both females and males were typically employed as domestics and more exclusively immigrants from Europe and enslaved blacks. Migrant male work was key to industrialization, however, most of them were denied admission to the United States if they had their family unities with them. Having the families follow them was perceived as a burden and considered undesirable in society. However, newer systems of recruiting labor such as the Bracero Program and the Guest Work Program, engaged many immigrants to join the labor force in the United States. These individuals were allowed to bring their families with them.
The demand for domestic work has expanded in wealthy societies around the world. These positions are customarily filled by recent immigrants and migrants from low socio-economic backgrounds, and members of different ethnicities and citizenship statuses. Hondageu-Sotelo argues, “Domestic work was the single largest category of paid employment for all women in the United States during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries, in large part because other opportunities were not available” (Hondageu-Sotelo, p. 9). Many married and single women were entering the labor force as secretaries, retail work, and clerical jobs, requiring to hire help to supplement the work of cleaning houses and caring for their children as it was transferring the new responsibility to the domestic employee. Additionally, with the high demands of a higher paying career or social life, many families have engaged in hiring some domestic workers for one or a variety of reasons.
There are three categories of domestic work that are typically performed in California in specific by Mexican, Central or South American worker. First, the live-in nanny/housekeeper. This employee is generally required to work an average of eleven to twelve hours per day and six days a week. Her responsibilities include taking care of the child(ren) and the cleaning duties. If the child wakes in the middle of the night, it is the domestica’s responsibilities to tend to the child. Second, the live-out nanny/housekeeper. This position is usually a step up in the domestic ladder. The domestic worker is in a better position to negotiate her demands. However, there are a variety of work schedules. Most of the live-out nannies arrive to work before the señora (lady of the house) has to go to work, if she is employed, and go home after the señora arrives home having had an opportunity to briefly discus how the child (ren) behaved, what they ate, and how much television they watched. Lastly, the cleaning lady or housekeeper, is the most desirable jobs among the domestic workers. Once they secure a route of houses to clean during the week, they feel accomplished in the workplace. Many prefer this set up as it gives them an opportunity to have their own social lives. The housekeeper goes to the house of the day, completes the work and on to the next house. At the end of the day, she gets to go home and enjoy her family life.
Domestic work has been viewed as a low-status, demeaning, and unskilled by many people. Latina workers are preferred because they are seen as obedient, and compliant. Domestic labor continues to be a significant part of the labor market, its resurgence is credited to the high demand of professional work done outside the house. Many families encounter the need to bring help in the form of a nanny, or housekeeper to supplement the lack of time the busy families are dealing with. In other circumstances, affluent families have the ability to afford and obtain the supplemental help they require in their household.