Factors underlying sex preference of domestic servants in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine factors underlying gender preference of domestic servants (DS). Children in domestic service constitute the most common form of urban child labour. Literature has shown that domestic service employment has a gender face with the girl-child more susceptible. This is the gap this research fills.Design/methodology/approach– The study employed both quantitative and qualitative strategies selecting respondents and analysing the study. The respondents were employers of DS and were mainly women. Qualitative data were generated from 15 employers reached through the snowball method. The stratified purposive sampling technique was used to identify private and public organisations in the selected localities where copies of a questionnaire were administered.Findings– The results showed that factors considered for employing DS are linked to traditional conception of household tasks. Consequently, girls (86.4 per cent) were preferred for performing domestic chores, providing emotional support for employers’ children and were viewed as receptive, “mouldable”, and hardworking to male (11.4 per cent). Not minding these functional roles they perform, some employers reported that female DS could “snatch” their husbands, influence their children negatively, and may be spiritually possessed and physically “unclean”. Male servants were considered foul, repulsive, and revolting to correction; besides, they sexually assault female children of employers; hence they were least demanded.Research limitations/implications– Because of the size of the sample which is small, the research results may lack generalisability. More expansive works are needed in this regard.Practical implications– The paper includes implications for policy initiative concerning the plight of working women and security of DS.Social implications– The paper reveals the social factors considered in recruiting DS and their implications on family relations.Originality/value– This paper fulfills the identified gap to study gender preference in domestic servitude.