Organization, emotions and resistance of Latina and Caribbean domestic workers in New York City, USA

Abstract

Domestic work is one of the most exploited and politically disorganized jobs in the world. However, in New York, USA, domestic workers have been fighting for years to have labor rights, to be recognized by law as workers and to change the notion that domestic work is not a "real job". This article is an ethnography in three different periods with three different organizations of domestic workers in the city of New York. Two of the main strategies that Latina and Caribbean migrant domestic workers in New York use to improve their working conditions will be discussed: legislative work, and the creation and strengthening of their base. For this point, the professionalization and politicization of negative emotions in positive affiliates becomes crucial. This will analyze the disruptive and power capabilities that domestic workers have in that American city.