Many countries worldwide dedicated Wednesday to their workers, celebrating and appreciating their roles and achievements. However, they left out many sacred hard workers whose profession is frequently overlooked, if not undermined.
“I don’t work, I am a housewife.” This is the usual response of mothers who themselves underestimate their most demanding, multifaceted role — keeping in mind that having one breadwinner, whether male or female, is a characteristic of a considerable number of families worldwide, including in Jordan.
“We support and encourage the entry of women into the labor market with the establishment of kindergartens wherever women have work opportunities.” This statement was made by a speaker during this year’s centenary celebrations of the UN’s International Labour Organization.
Women themselves underestimate their role as the leader of families, meeting the needs of their children and their spouse, while attending to the essentials of the house at large, including managing the household budget.
Women themselves underestimate their role as the leader of families, meeting the needs of their children and their spouse, while attending to the essentials of the house at large, including managing the household budget.
Madeleine Mezagopian
It is high time to revisit this most demanding of roles, starting with its title. Family custodian and family caretaker are two possibilities.
Further, this point must be followed up with the crucial step of establishing a syndicate or union for family custodians/caretakers, which, like all professional unions, would be designed to tackle the relevant rights and challenges, including how to meet all the physical, psychological and mental needs associated with the job.
To reward this profession is a must, whether in the form of monthly allowances or other privileges that can be given in both developed and developing countries, or through highlighting this revered work on a worldwide occasion like International Workers’ Day. The public and private sectors could then adequately reward family custodians/caretakers, male or female, and especially those serving the needs of vulnerable family members, whether adults or children.
Last, but surely not least, through giving credit to these workers, not only is justice served for this much disregarded and arduous profession, but equally family life is honored, if not saved, and the dignity of this work is preserved and enhanced.
Happy International Workers’ Day and a big thank you to the great family custodians/caretakers wherever you are.
- Madeleine Mezagopian is an academic researcher, adviser and analyst specializing in conflict resolution. She is an active member of the General Assembly of Al-Hussein Society/Jordan Center for Training and Inclusion.
