To me she is mom, as i was taught.
There are thousands if not millions of women in South Africa working as servants/ domestic workers. Their work in various households differs from childcare, cleaning, housekeeping (cooking, laundry, ironing, food shopping and other responsibilities).
Domestic workers face different conditions in their place of work, and for many this is what they call work.
The challenge
These workers are grown up women with children and husbands. Most African cultures requires one to treat any grown up women as own "mom" or "auntie", but young employers call these workers by their names and mistreat them. Children of employers also call these mothers by names and often disrespect them.
She wakes up at 4.00am in the morning to catch a bus to go and look after someones household and children, while her children have no one to take care of them. As if being disrespected at work was not enough, when she gets home her own children do not appreciate her efforts of putting bread on the table or "cheap" clothes she buys them. In reality, the domestic worker doesn't earn much.
With peanuts she earned as wages her children go through university. The husband physically abuse her for coming back late from work while her children miss the opportunity of experiencing the love of mom because she comes back home tired after a long day of "serving".
Domestic workers face challenges each and everyday, at work and home. without medical benefits and bonuses they still deserve that elderly respect. these "servants" are someone's mother and wife.
"Honor your father and your mother it will be well with you"
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