New Books Network Katherine Eva Maich, "Bringing Law Home: Gender, Race, and Household Labor Rights" (Stanford UP, 2025)
Sep 15, 2025
Katherine Eva Maich, an assistant professor of sociology at Texas A&M University, dives into the world of domestic labor rights from her new book. She contrasts the experiences of domestic workers in New York City and Lima, Peru, revealing how deeply rooted gendered racialization impacts their rights. Maich discusses the limited legal protections in both regions and how the perception of the home as a private sphere complicates labor rights advocacy. The conversation also highlights the power of collective action and grassroots movements in challenging these injustices.
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Colonial City Shapes Domestic Labor
- Lima's colonial history shapes contemporary domestic work patterns and power relations in employers' homes.
- Generational live-in domestic work is normalized in Lima, producing different labor dynamics than New York.
Limited Gains Of New York's Bill
- New York's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights brought minimum wage, overtime distinctions, and limited rest protections.
- It also created a harassment clause and human rights coverage but fell short of many organizers' expectations.
Peru's Law Regulates The Home—Imperfectly
- Peru's 2003 law explicitly regulates employer obligations and household privacy, acknowledging the home as a workplace.
- Yet it instructs workers to be discreet about household matters while remaining silent on sexual violence risks.
