Aid and the Help: International Development and the Transnational Extraction of Care

Hiring domestic workers is a common practice for expat aid workers in the developing world, but these relationships are often overlooked in analyses of the development paradigm. Aid and the Help: An Ethnographic Analysis of the Intersection of Development Work and Domestic Work explores this issue by examining the reproductive labor cheaply purchased by aid workers and assessing how the development industry can be an extractive industry.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Hiring domestic workers is an integral aspect of the expat development lifestyle, whether one works for the United Nations, governmental aid agencies, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Oxfam, Save the Children, or World Vision. In the developing world, expatriate aid workers rely on maids, nannies, security guards, gardeners, and chauffeurs to assist them in their daily lives. While nearly every expat aid worker employs local individuals within the intimate sphere of their homes, these relationships are often overlooked in analyses of the development paradigm and its practices.

To address this significant gap, Aid and the Help offers an ethnographic exploration of the intersection between development work and domestic work. By examining the reproductive labor cheaply purchased by aid workers posted overseas, the book sheds light on the various ways in which the ostensibly giving industry of development can also operate as an extractive industry.

The book begins by providing a historical overview of the global aid industry, highlighting its growth and expansion over the past several decades. It then delves into the specific context of domestic work, examining the ways in which it has become increasingly outsourced to low-wage countries, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.

The authors argue that the outsourcing of domestic work to developing countries is not only detrimental to the well-being of domestic workers but also has broader implications for the development agenda. They argue that the exploitation of domestic workers perpetuates gender inequality, as women are often disproportionately represented in this sector and are paid lower wages than men. Additionally, the authors argue that the outsourcing of domestic work undermines local economies, as it takes away jobs from local workers and contributes to the growth of informal economies.

To address these issues, the book proposes a number of solutions. One of the key recommendations is the recognition of domestic work as a form of labor that is deserving of respect and protection. This includes the implementation of labor laws that provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and social benefits for domestic workers. The book also calls for the development of training programs that will enable domestic workers to improve their skills and increase their earning potential.

In addition to these policy recommendations, the book also highlights the importance of building stronger relationships between aid workers and domestic workers. This includes promoting dialogue and collaboration between aid workers and domestic workers, as well as advocating for the recognition of domestic workers as stakeholders in the development process.

Overall, Aid and the Help provides a valuable contribution to the literature on development and domestic work. By examining the intersection of these two fields, the book sheds light on the complex and often overlooked relationships between aid workers and domestic workers. It offers a number of practical solutions that can help to improve the well-being of domestic workers and promote more equitable and sustainable development practices.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503634602