Priya Gala, Week 7

Of Rasoi ka Kaam/ Bathroom ka Kaam: Perspective of Women Domestic Workers by Sonal Sharma

In this article the author examines the ideas of purity and pollution in the domestic workplace through the perspective of female domestic workers. An important claim of the author is that the concept of dirt or “dirty” is not absolute but relative; it is a social construct and through mundane acts like having different toilets or utensils the distinction of dirty and pure is drawn and re-established. The term ganda is used in different contexts but has a reference to the ideology of caste e.g. when “untouchable” caste groups cook or enter the kitchen which they are forbidden to do, it is referred to as ganda. However, caste alone does not explain the politics of domestic work. Religion and region are equally important, too. The conception of pure and impure is not only held by the employers but is also internalized by the domestic workers e.g. when they are asked to clean the toilet, they find it impure and believe that the jamdar should do it. Muslims and Dalits are usually forbidden from entering the kitchen this is clear from the examples of Jummi and Heena. The work is therefore divided into rasoi ka kaam and bathroom ka kaam. Thus, the author argues that the unequal claim of workers in the use of space is not only in relation to employers but also workers.