Empowered yet vulnerable: employers of housemaids in Kampala

Abstract

Formally employed working -women in Kampala occupy a multi dimensional complex position multifaceted with empowerment and vulnerability. This position is compounded by gender stereotypes especially in the domestic sphere. This paper draws on a larger qualitative study that explored gender relations between domestic employees (locally referred to as house girls/maids) and their employers (who are formerly employed women) in Kampala-Uganda. The study findings indicate an interdependent relationship between employers and employees. Despite the mutual benefit from each other, this domestic work relationship is characterized with mistrust, mistreatment and ambiguity. This paper concludes that formal employed women continue to be vulnerable to gender stereotypes even though they are economically empowered through their employment.