What is it about?
This paper discusses the factors influencing sex preference among employers of domestic servants in southwestern Nigeria. Sex becomes crucial as research as shown that girls are more likely than boys to be employed as domestic servants. Demand for sex was skewed towards gendered roles as females were preferred mostly by women to perform chores, mouldable and receptive. 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.
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Why is it important?
This study reveals the informal considerations underlying demand for sex of domestic servants. It is important for us as this can inform policy to check traffic in persons. It is important also because it brings to the fore the challenges being faced by women in dual-earner family model.
Perspectives
Trafficking in children is a major problem in Nigeria as the country is a source, transit and destination. Most of these children are trafficked for domestic use. The data in this study has shown the importance of sex as functional in decision making process. Household decision making is mediated by expected roles and security implications for the home.
Oludayo Tade
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This page is a summary of: Factors underlying sex preference of domestic servants in Nigeria, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, July 2014, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/ijssp-05-2013-0054.
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