Maid
Encyclopedia
Domestic worker
A domestic worker is a man, woman or child who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping...
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Description
Once part of an elaborate hierarchy in great houseGreat house
A great house is a large and stately residence; the term encompasses different styles of dwelling in different countries. The name refers to the makeup of the household rather than to any particular architectural style...
s, today a single maid may be the only domestic worker
Domestic worker
A domestic worker is a man, woman or child who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping...
that upper
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
and even middle-income households can afford, as was historically the case for many households. In the contemporary Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, comparatively few households can afford live-in domestic help, usually compromising on periodic cleaners. In less developed nations, very large differences in the income of urban and rural households and between different socio-economic classes, fewer educated women and limited opportunities for working women ensures a labour source for domestic work.
Historically many maids suffered from Prepatellar bursitis
Prepatellar bursitis
Prepatellar bursitis, also known as Housemaid's knee, is a common cause of swelling and pain above the patella , and is due to inflammation of the prepatellar bursa. This structure is a superficial bursa with a thin synovial lining located between the skin and the patella...
, an inflammation of the Prepatellar bursa
Prepatellar bursa
The prepatellar bursa is a frontal bursa of the knee joint. It is a superficial bursa with a thin synovial lining located between the skin and the patella.-Pathology:...
caused by long periods spent on the knees for purposes of scrubbing and fire-lighting, leading to the condition attracting the colloquial name of "Housemaid's Knee".
Maids perform typical domestic chores such as cooking, ironing
Ironing
Ironing is the use of a heated tool to remove wrinkles from fabric. The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180-220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric. Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material...
, washing, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, walking the family dog, and taking care of children. In many places in some poor countries
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
, maids often take on the role of a nurse in taking care of the elderly and people with disabilities. Many maids are required by their employers to wear a uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
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Legislation in many countries makes certain living conditions, working hours, or minimum wages a requirement of domestic service. Nonetheless, the work of a maid has always been hard, involving a full day, and extensive duties.
Types of maid
Maids traditionally have a fixed position in the hierarchy of the large households, and although there is overlap between definitions (dependent on the size of the household) the positions themselves would typically be rigidly adhered to. The usual classifications of maid in a large household are:- Lady's MaidLady's maidA lady's maid is a female personal attendant who waits on the lady of the house. The position is very similar to a gentleman's valet. Traditionally, in eras past, the lady's maid was not as high-ranking as a lady's companion, who was a retainer rather than a servant, but the rewards included room...
— a senior servant who reported directly to the ladyLadyThe word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman...
of the house, but still ranked beneath the HousekeeperHousekeeper (servant)A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
, and accompanied her lady on travel. - House Maid — a generic term for maids whose function was chiefly 'above stairs', and were therefore usually a little older, and better paid; where a household included multiple House Maids they were often sub-divided as below.
- Head House Maid — the senior house maid, reporting directly to the Housekeeper. (Also called House Parlour Maid in an establishment with only one or two upstairs maids).
- Parlour Maid — the parlour maids cleaned and tidied reception rooms and living areas by morning, and often served refreshments at afternoon tea, and sometimes also dinner. They tidied studies and libraries, and (with footmen) answered bells calling for service.
- Chamber Maid — the chamber maids cleaned and maintained the bedrooms, ensured fires were lit in fire places, and supplied hot water.
- Laundry Maid — the laundry maids maintained the bedding and towels, and also washed, dried, and ironed clothes for the whole household, including the servants.
- Under House Parlour Maid — the general deputy to the House Parlour Maid in a small establishment which had only two upstairs maids.
- Nursery Maid — also an 'upstairs maid', but one who worked in the childrens' nursery, maintaining fires, cleanliness, and good order, and reporting to the Nanny rather than the Housekeeper.
- Kitchen MaidKitchen maid-Great house kitchen maid:A kitchen maid is a young maid, or junior female servant. In the hierarchy of a great house she ranked below a cook and above a scullery maid...
— a 'below stairs' maid who reported to the Cook, and assisted in the running of the kitchens.- Head Kitchen Maid — where multiple kitchen maids were employed, the Head Kitchen Maid was effectively a deputy to the Cook, engaged largely in the plainer and simpler cooking.
- Under Kitchen Maid — where mulitple kitchen maids were employed these were the staff who prepared vegetables, peeled potatoes, and assisted in presentation of finished cooking for serving.
- Scullery MaidScullery maidIn great houses, scullery maids were the lowest-ranked and often the youngest of the female servants and acted as assistant to a kitchen maid. The scullery maid reported to the cook or chef...
— the lowest grade of 'below stairs' maid, reporting to the Cook, the Scullery Maids were responsible for washing up cutlery, crockery, and glassware, and scrubbing kitchen floors, as well as monitoring ovens whilst Kitchen Maids ate their own supper. - Between MaidBetween maidA between maid is a female junior servant in a large household with many staff...
— roughly equivalent in status to scullery maids, and often paid less, the Between Maids in a large household waited on the senior servants (ButlerButlerA butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
, HousekeeperHousekeeperHousekeeper may refer to:* Housekeeper , a woman heading up domestic maintenance* Maid, a female with various domestic duties* Janitor, a person responsible for institutional maintenance* A person engaged in housekeeping...
, CookCookCook is a family name of English origin.There are several figures named Cook:- A :*Aaron Cook several people*A. J. Cook , actress*A. J...
) and were therefore answerable to all three department heads, often leading to friction in their employment.
In more modest households a single Maid-of-all-work or skivvy was often the only staff.
In popular culture
One of the most in-depth and enduring representations of the lives of several types of maid was seen in the 1970s television drama Upstairs, DownstairsUpstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
, set in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
between 1903 and 1930.
See also
- Domestic workerDomestic workerA domestic worker is a man, woman or child who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping...
- FootmanFootmanA footman is a male servant, notably as domestic staff.-Word history:The name derives from the attendants who ran beside or behind the carriages of aristocrats, many of whom were chosen for their physical attributes. They ran alongside the coach to make sure it was not overturned by such obstacles...
- NannyNannyA nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
- Au pairAu pairAn au pair is a domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use...
- French maidFrench maidFrench maid refers to a strongly modified style of servant’s dress that evolved from typical maids’ black and white afternoon uniforms of the nineteenth century . The designs of the French maid dress can range widely from a conservative look to revealing...
- Foreign domestic helpers in Hong KongForeign domestic helpers in Hong KongForeign domestic helpers in Hong Kong are foreign domestic workers and housemaids employed by Hongkongers, typically families. They make up approximately 3% of the population of Hong Kong and an overwhelming majority of them are women...
- Maid serviceMaid serviceMaid service, cleaning service and janitorial service are terms more modernly describing a specialized outside service, providing a specific service to individuals, businesses, fraternal clubs and associations as well a home....