Emotional manipulation and modern slavery: the case of paid domestic work

Abstract

Paid housework is one of the most exploitative occupa-tions in the world. Women who carry out this occupation usually do so without employment benefits and isolated from other domestic employees. Also, many of these women were stolen or sold. Thus, this occupation preserves characteristics of slavery considered obsolete. The affective ties that many of these employees generate with those who they work for are often used to abuse them. This is a layer that has not been studied in detail within the dynamics of exploitation existing within paid housework. I call this mechanism emotional manipulation and it will be discussed to broaden the debate on modern slavery and the role that emotional ties have as a mechanism of domination and labor abuse.