Living with my parents, I observed how our house helps were treated everyday. My grandmother, especially, rooted in her tradition and age, believed in subjecting the households to harsh, unkind words should they take an unwarranted leave or come late. Sometimes, our helps took leaves and din’t inform beforehand- that’s inconvenient, yes. Other than that, the screaming and yelling at househelps has always bothered me.
I think it’s inhuman they way my grandmother spoke to them- god forbid if they were Muslim or from a lower Hindu caste. Couldn’t control my grandmother. I also couldn’t stop my mother from piling up the utensils for the househelp when she took a day off. There is a fundamental difference in having a maid versus having a househelp. Unfortunately, the (ab)use of the former term is generation-agnostic. I am living with GenZ girls who mimic the same behavior.
Our society, thankfully, believes and encourages waste segregation within the house. So, there’s kitchen waste and dry waste. Every flat, barring mine, segregates and disposes it every morning via the doorstep collection. My girls, however, find it inconvenient to walk 10 steps from the kitchen counter to the kitchen dustbin to segregate the kitchen waste. The help who cleans our house is also the waste collector for the society. Therefore, it is her job to collect waste personally from our house when she comes over to clean. The entitlement is obnoxious.
Most times, the househelps come from underprivileged circumstances which underscores their desperation for money. In due pursuit, they overlook working conditions, and likely do not understand when their time and services are being exploited. I am glad to see some States in India (Karnataka, more recently) consider bills that protect domestic workers- their rights, having a defined contractual agreement, social security measures and so on. I would love for the law to force the GenZ girls into paying our househelp the dues she deserves for cleaning up after them.
It’s safe to say this behavior and sentiment towards househelps also extends to street vendors and haggling for their wares. I don’t know the margins for perishables like flowers and garlands, but I’d be surprised if they were over 50%. Honestly, there needs to be a margin that ensures sustenance of livelihood and the business. To not recognize that some financial principles apply to all folks, irrespective of employment is to be a dumbfounded fool.
I am realizing it is incredibly difficult to change people, regardless of age. One can be stubborn and stupid at any age they so desire, and even surround themselves with the same clowns. It’s amusing and extremely disturbing.